Former England striker Darren Bent believes Mikel Arteta should drop goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for the remainder of Arsenal’s season, insisting that David Raya must start every remaining match as the club chases major honours on multiple fronts.
Bent’s comments follow growing debate around ARSENAL’s goalkeeping hierarchy after recent reports linked Arrizabalaga with a possible increase in playing time during the run-in. Raya has been Arteta’s undisputed No. 1 for most of the campaign, but speculation arose last week suggesting the manager might rotate his goalkeepers during a congested period of fixtures.
Speaking on his talkSPORT programme, Bent dismissed the idea of handing minutes to the on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper, arguing that consistency is essential as Arsenal push for the Premier League title and prepare for decisive European fixtures
‘It was just worrying, the performance, because there were so many players who I have lauded this season, like (Cristhian) Mosquera, whenever he has come in to play when (William) Saliba has been injured, at times he’s looked really good, he looked like he was nervous against Southampton,’ Bent told talkSPORT.
‘Gabriel (Magalhaes), I don’t know if it was because Saliba wasn’t next to him, he looked a little bit nervous, not like his normal self.
‘Gabriel Jesus… I mean, I don’t know why we keep trying, I could’ve told you, it’s not worked for like three years and yet we’re still… I know you’ve got to give players minutes but that’s not working.
‘As I said, (Max) Dowman was the only one who I thought, ‘he’s got a little bit about him’.
‘Stop playing Kepa. I know it’s not necessarily his fault, but I don’t want to see Kepa again this season. As a back-up, perfect. David Raya, between now and the end of the season, has to play every single minute.
‘Even if Arsenal destroy Sporting in the Champions League, next week I need David Raya in goal. Play him from now in every game until the end of the season.
‘I understand he’s trying to play bodies but these players are letting him down, they keep being given opportunities and they’re not taking them. Gabriel Jesus was like a passenger.’
ARSENAL enter the final weeks of the campaign in contention for their first league title in two decades, with a tight race expected to go down to the wire. With every point potentially decisive, the goalkeeping debate remains a prominent talking point among supporters and pundits alike.
MORE ARSENAL NEWS AND GOSSIP –
Latest: Official confirms he will sit down with Arsenal and hold talks over Portuguese International
Most Read: Arsenal to snap up Real Madrids Spanish player in absolute summer bargain – report
Must Check Out: Arsenal news: Arteta to snap up Madrid star – Boss ‘will push’ £50M Deal – ‘Deal Verbally agreed’ for midfielder
LOVE ARSENAL? CLICK RIGHT HERE FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND GOSSIP
Related
Discover more from IcFootballNews –
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
