Arsenal are making some late changes to their squad ahead of Friday’s cut-off point.
It has been a productive window for Edu Gaspar and Mikel Arteta, with big names leaving, but also huge additions being made to the squad.
Riccardo Calafiori has been a standout purchase for Arsenal and they have just completed the signing of Euro 2024 winner, Mikel Merino.
But now all eyes will be on who will head for the exit door because that’s what will make the headlines in these coming days.
Sources have told HITC that Eddie Nketiah and Fabio Vieira are heading for the exit door, but an even more senior player has been told to join them.
Arteta has made some brave calls during his time as Arsenal‘s manager, even going as far back as 2021 when he booted out Mesut Ozil.
But last season, he surprised many when he made David Raya Arsenal’s number-one goalkeeper, even though Aaron Ramsdale was well-liked between the sticks.
As a result, Ramsdale only played 560 minutes of Premier League football last term and last played in the league against Brentford in March when Raya was still on loan.
Kris Boyd has now told Ramsdale that he has to leave the Emirates because he won’t get picked by Areta again.
The former striker highlighted some of the £30 million star’s standout performances in Arsenal colours and how he is ‘too good’ to be sitting on the bench, as he told Sky Sports News.
Aaron Ramsdale told to leave Arsenal
“I think if you look around the league it’s a position that is so important, it has always been more important, but you look at the way Arsenal have evolved and brought in David Raya,” said Boyd. “They feel he is better with the ball at his feet.
“But he (Ramsdale) needs to be playing. Some of the saves he has had over the years, especially big saves as well for Arsenal. You think of the one at Anfield (2-2 draw) as well when Salah came inside and had a shot.
“You look at goalkeepers and think ‘oh, they can be out of the team for a while, they will come back in and they will be the exact same player’, but you need to be playing. Be up to speed to get your angles correct. He is too good (to be sitting on the bench). He needs to be playing and he isn’t going to get that at Arsenal. You go back a few months ago, when David Raya came in ‘oh, he is going to get an opportunity and get back in’. He isn’t getting back in now. It’s not happening, so he needs to find somewhere where he needs to play.”
Arsenal’s win at Aston Villa
Yes, only two Premier League games have been played, but Arsenal’s win at Aston Villa on Saturday was a statement three points.
Ollie Watkins missed two glorious chances to score before Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey scored the only goals of the game.
But Raya’s second-half save won him Man of the Match and he further proves why Arteta made him the main guy at the club.
