Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he could substitute his goalkeeper in the middle of a match in the future if the situation demands a tactical change.
Arteta gave David Raya his debut in Sunday’s 1-0 win against Everton after dropping England keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
The Spaniard, signed on loan from Brentford recently, was rarely tested by woeful Everton before Leandro Trossard’s second-half strike sealed Arsenal’s first win at Goodison Park in six years.
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Arsenal’s Spanish goalkeeper #22 David Raya applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on September 17, 2023. Arsenal won the game 1-0. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Defending his decision to start with Raya, Arteta said: “The same rationale about why Fabio (Vieira) played here or Eddie (Nketiah) or Gabriel Jesus.
“I haven’t had a single question on why Gabriel Jesus didn’t start. He has won more trophies than anybody else, including me, in that dressing room.”
Arteta, whose side have made an unbeaten start to the Premier League season, claimed he would even be prepared utilise two goalkeepers in one match if he felt it would help secure a victory.
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Arsenal’s English goalkeeper #01 Aaron Ramsdale (C) looks on from his place on the bench during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on September 17, 2023. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
“I cannot have two players in each position and not play them. David has tremendous qualities, like Aaron has and we have to use them,” he said.
“I am a really young manager and I have only been in the job for three and a half years and I have few regrets about what we have done.
“One of them is that on two occasions I felt after 60 minutes and 85 minutes in two games in this period, to change the keeper in that moment and I didn’t do it.
“I didn’t have the courage to do it. But I am able to take a winger, or a striker, and put a central defender back and go to a back five to hold that result.
“We drew those games and I was so unhappy. Someone is going to do it. Why not? Tell me why not.
“You have all the qualities in another goalkeeper and you want to do something to change the momentum, do it.”
AFP