Why Mikel Arteta got annoyed at Arsenal star in pre-season as David Raya transfer plan explained

Arsenal are reportedly keen to sign Brentford shot-stopper David Raya this summer as they look to bring in a new goalkeeper to help challenge current number-one Aaron Ramsdale

Arsenal are interested in signing Brentford goalkeeper David Raya this summer, according to recent reports.

The north Londoners are said to be keen to bolster their options in between the posts, something that comes as a surprise to many considering how good Aaron Ramsdale has been since arriving at the club two years ago. However any deal to recruit Raya would likely be to bring in sufficient competition for Ramsdale, not as a replacement for him.

Now, The Athletic have detailed Mikel Arteta’s frustrations with the England international during the Gunners’ pre-season tour of America, claiming that the Spaniard could be seen turning away in frustration when the ‘keeper mis-hit several passes out of play. Of course, the pitches during Arsenal’s friendly matches were below-par and Arteta’s annoyance was fairly minor.

But one could argue that Ramsdale’s distribution would only get better if Raya was signed this summer, with the added competition surely helping the 25-year-old remain on his toes, reducing the risk of complacency. Matt Turner was his backup last season and despite the American’s impressive shot-stopping qualities, there was clearly a major drop-off when it came to playing out from the back.