‘If he had his time again’: Pundit says Mikel Arteta should’ve been more ‘brutal’ with £30m Arsenal player

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Mikel Arteta hasn’t got a lot wrong since he became the manager of Arsenal.

The Spaniard has had to handle some very tricky situations at the Emirates as he’s made huge calls on the likes of Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in recent years.

Arteta has a reputation for being quite brutal with some of his players, but, in the summer, he was perhaps too soft with one of his stars – Aaron Ramsdale.

Speaking on the Handbrake Off Podcast, Adrian Clarke has been discussing the goalkeeping situation at Arsenal as Ramsdale remains glued to the Gunners’ bench, and the pundit says that Arteta perhaps should’ve been more brutal with Ramsdale rather than selling this false pretence that he’d like to substitute his goalkeepers and rotate at times.

Arteta should’ve been more brutal with Ramsdale

Clarke gave his view on the £30m man’s situation after David Raya put in a poor performance against Luton.

“He even brought it up saying why can’t I make a tactical change and if a change of goalkeeper benefits the team I can bring the other on. This game was the perfect example where Raya is having a difficult evening and if an outfield player has a difficult evening they get whipped off,” Clarke said.

If he had his time again I think Mikel Arteta would’ve had a different verbal approach in the media. I think he would’ve had to be more brutal with Aaron and say that he had the chance to get David Raya who he rates highly and he’s going to be number one. That would’ve been brutal to say, but it would’ve been more honest and would’ve created less fuel for this debate.”

Exposed

Mikel Arteta has dug himself a hole here.

He said that he was happy to substitute his goalkeepers at times when he thinks a change is needed, but when David Raya has struggled – namely against Luton and Manchester City, Ramsdale hasn’t been called upon.

Arteta has been exposed for fibbing a bit to his goalkeeper, and that’s why this situation is getting so much attention. If he was honest and clear from day one, this wouldn’t be such a circus.