Mikel Arteta hinted that he will continue to rotate his goalkeepers after deciding to drop Aaron Ramsdale for David Raya in the win over Everton.
Raya joined the club on loan from Brentford last month and replaced Ramsdale in the Arsenal goal for the first time against the Toffees as Leandro Trossard’s second-half winner ensured the Gunners remain unbeaten so far this season.
And the Arsenal boss believes rotating goalkeepers should not be considered any different to other positions on the pitch.
Arteta explained: “The same rationale that Fabio (Vieira) played here or Eddie (Nketiah) played instead of Gabriel Jesus. I haven’t had a single question on why Gabriel Jesus hasn’t started. He’s won more trophies than anyone, including me, in that dressing room, but they don’t.
“It’s something that has been historically done like this, but I cannot have two players like this in one position and not play them. David has tremendous qualities like Aaron has, like Karl has, but we have to use them you know.”
Arteta even says he will consider substituting goalkeepers during games and is frustrated that he has not already done so when considering it.
“It’s like this. I’m a really young manager. I’ve been in this job for three and a half years and I have few regrets with what I’ve done.
“One of them was that in two occasions, I felt after 60 minutes and 85 minutes, in two games, in this period, to change the keeper in that moment. But I didn’t do it. I didn’t have the courage to do it. But I’m able to take a winger, or a striker, or but a central defender on to drop to a five and hold that result.
“We drew those games and I was so unhappy. Someone is going to do it, and maybe it will be [me]. That’s strange? Why? Why not? We have all the qualities in another goalkeeper to do something when something is happening and you want to change momentum. Do it. It’s a regret that I have.
“Now my feeling is to get everybody engaged in the team. They have to play, regardless of the competition. We have to do it. This is my message.”
