Jamie Carragher reignited an old rivalry with Peter Schmeichel after a discussion about Arsenal’s goalkeeper situation descended into a heated row on live television. The pair, who used to represent Liverpool and Manchester United respectively, were both part of CSB Sports’ Champions League coverage on Wednesday evening.
Before the group stage action got underway across Europe, a debate took place around Mikel Arteta’s decision to select Spaniard David Raya in goal ahead of regular ‘keeper Aaron Ramsdale for Arsenal’s home tie with PSV Eindhoven.
Schmeichel, who played for the Red Devils from 1991-1999 and is widely regarded is one of the best goalkeepers in the history of the Premier League, felt that Arteta’s decision to start rotating his No. 1s was “crazy”.
Speaking on CBS Sports, the Dane said: “I don’t get it. I don’t understand why you want to create a competition situation for goalkeepers. The one thing you want from your goalkeeper is stability. Do the job you’re supposed to do, stop the ball from going in the net.
“If you’re in a competition situation at some point you are going to think ‘I have to prove that I am a better goalkeeper than the other one’. If you go and try things as a goalkeeper very often they go wrong.
“I don’t get this. I think it’s crazy and I think Arteta might just be creating a problem that he didn’t need going forward.”
Former England shot-stopper Rob Page agreed with Schmeichel, suggesting that goalkeepers don’t get rotated “they get dropped”, which would leave both Arsenal glovesman wondering what they would need to do to stay in the team.
But studio pundit Carragher, who made 737 appearances for Liverpool during a 17-year career at Anfield, was having none of it, insisting that the summer signing of Raya was for one reason only.
He said: “Peter, and Rob, I have to say I disagree with both of you. Surely if Mikel Arteta thinks he can get a better goalkeeper in the building he has to make that signing to make Arsenal a better team?”
Schmeichel asked Carragher: “Do you think Raya is a better goalkeeper than Ramsdale?”
“100 per cent,” replied the former England international. “Arsenal will never win the league with Ramsdale in goal. No chance.”
Schmeichel then accused Carragher of making a “big statement” with his view, before the studio pundit replied: “That’s what we’re here for.”
Feeling the need to defend Ramsdale, Schmeichel talked up his qualities and described how he had won him over at Arsenal, but after claiming that the England stopper was good with his feet, Carragher interjected: “Raya’s much better with his feet than Ramsdale?”
The ex-Liverpool defender started to get hot under the collar when Schmeichel suggested that Arsenal should not have signed another ‘keeper in the summer. “They should have. Absolute toss,” he argued.
As the exchange continued, Schmeichel put it to Carragher that as a defender, he should know that the last thing a defence wants is a goalkeeper behind them that could make a mistake whilst competing for a starting berth.
A by now agitated Carragher snapped: “It’s not about a goalkeeper being comfortable, it’s about a manager getting the best team that he can possibly get on that pitch and if he thinks Raya is better he’s got to make that signing.”
Schmeichel drew the heated debate to its conclusion when he asked Carragher if he thought that if Arsenal had Raya in goal last season instead of Ramsdale, was he saying that the Gunners would have won the league.
“How can you even answer that?” argued a ruffled-looking Carragher. “Raya’s a better goalkeeper. Just concentrate on your crew tonight will you?”
Arsenal would go on to comfortably beat Eindhoven 4-0, while United suffered a 4-3 loss away to Bayern Munich.
