Raya did not have to wait too long to seize the number one spot. And with that, Ramsdale has been a peripheral figure for much of the campaign. It does not feel that Ramsdale has done a lot wrong to lose his place. However, Raya is known for being brilliant with the ball at his feet. And after taking some time to prove himself, the Spaniard is now showing why Arteta took the gamble to sign him in the summer.
But it would appear that Adrian Clarke would take exception with the idea of Ramsdale is nowhere near as good with his feet.
Speaking on Handbrake Off, Clarke lauded Raya, but insisted that Ramsdale is a lot better than some will necessarily give him credit for.
“Look, Ramsdale’s distribution is good as well. Don’t forget it. I’ll never forget the performance at Leicester a couple of years ago where he was zinging passes into midfield. Ramsdale is a brilliant distributor in my view,” he said.
“I think he’s more comfortable at luring opponents onto him and playing through gaps than Aaron Ramsdale. I think Aaron Ramsdale’s technique at striking the ball is almost as good, if not just as good as David Raya’s personally.
“David Raya has got a ping on him. David Raya can do the 70 yard launch over a high back four very well actually. But I don’t think there’s much. Raya is more suited to saying, ‘come on then, come and get me’, and then he’ll just pass it into someone through bodies. But I think in general, David Raya’s more confident now. His passing’s now better. Everything’s better about his game.”
