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Reports have suggested that Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta started David Raya as his goalkeeper in Everton’s game because of his ability to claim crosses.
Recall that Arsenal was the better side when they visited Everton in Sunday’s Premier League clash, securing a 1-0 victory.
However, the presence of David Raya at Arsenal’s goalpost during the fixture, instead of Aaron Ramsdale, raised questions.
Clearing the air, former Arsenal midfielder Adrian Clarke, shared that Arteta preferred Raya because of his ability to claim crosses, while stating that the manager may continue to rotate his goalkeepers throughout the season.
Clarke highlighted Raya’s proficiency in coming out to catch crosses, a skill that proved valuable against Everton.
“One reason I think why David Raya might have played this game is he’s so good at coming out to catch crosses. Everton are big; they put crosses into the box – although they didn’t put many in this game.”
Backing his point with statistics, Clarke pointed out that Raya caught 51 balls last season, which was the second-highest in the league.
In contrast, Ramsdale came out to catch only 17 balls. “This difference in their approach to dealing with crosses influenced Arteta’s choice for the match against Everton,” Clarke said.
