Arteta surprised fans by swooping for Raya during the summer, with Ramsdale already a popular figure in north London. The Gunners’ new goalkeeper signing had to sit tight over the first few weeks of the season before being thrown in against Everton on Sunday.
Raya kept a clean sheet against the Toffees and repeated the feat in a 4-0 win over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. If the Spaniard gets the nod against Spurs, Carragher believes that Arteta’s mind is completely made up.
“If Raya starts this weekend’s north London derby – and on the basis of his first two appearances there is no reason to leave him out – the debate as to who is the real Arsenal No 1 ends,” the former Liverpool defender wrote for The Telegraph.
“Ramsdale will have to adjust to spending a lot of time on the bench this season, and presumably speculation linking him with a move before the start of next season will intensify. For me, it is a logical decision to pick Raya. Put simply, he is a better keeper than Ramsdale.”
Henry, who remains Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer, is similarly pessimistic about Ramsdale’s chances of working his way back into the starting XI.
Only time will tell whether Raya is promoted to first choice on a longer-term basis. Arteta recently discussed the possibility of substituting goalkeepers midway through matches, and he has suggested that the door will remain open for Ramsdale to earn another chance.
Rival clubs are believed to be keeping track of the England international’s predicament, including Chelsea, who could make a move in January if Raya proves impossible to displace.
