Tim Howard still thinks one Arsenal player is looking ‘low on confidence’ right now

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Tim Howard believes David Raya is lacking confidence between the sticks for Arsenal right now.

The former Everton goalkeeper has been speaking about David Raya’s start to life at Arsenal on The 2 Robbies Podcast. 

Raya has come under heavy pressure since replacing Aaron Ramsdale in Mikel Arteta’s side in early September.

The Spaniard has made a few mistakes leading to goals and it’s even led to sections of the Arsenal supporters calling for Ramsdale to get another opportunity. 

But the 28-year-old seems to be Arteta’s favoured choice for the time being, with Arsenal having the option to make his loan switch from Brentford permanent for £27 million next summer. 

And Tim Howard has compared the Arsenal man to former Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.

Howard says Raya is struggling for confidence at Arsenal

“I think he is exactly what he is,” Howard said. “He’s an aggressive goalkeeper at his near post. Very much like Fabien Barthez at Manchester United, he’s going to come for crosses and miss a few and not really have too much care and go at it again.

“He looks a little bit low on confidence at times with the shot-stopping. He was brought in to play the type of football that Mikel Arteta wants to play, that De Zerbi wants to play – out the back with the ball at their feet.

“That’s the goalkeeper that he wants and quite honestly, he’s had 11 goals against him in 12 games.

“The numbers are actually quite good. It’s just every now and then he looks a little shaky. I think he’s the goalkeeper that we’re seeing.” 

It’s not exactly rare for goalkeepers to endure a shaky start at a new club.

Raya was exceptional for Brentford last season and he barely put a foot wrong under Thomas Frank.

The goalkeeping situation at Arsenal won’t have helped his settling-in period due to Ramsdale’s influence at the club last term.

But after a rocky game at Luton Town earlier this month, the Spaniard has improved since.