Mikel Arteta will have to make a significant change to his Arsenal starting XI this weekend with Aaron Ramsdale set to make his Premier League return.
The England international hasn’t played a top flight game since the Gunners’ win against Manchester United on September 3.
Ramsdale’s only opportunities since that 3-1 victory have come in the Carabao Cup with summer signing Raya afforded a run of games to cement his status as the club’s new No.1.
The 28-year-old has made a less than convincing start to his Arsenal career but has received the consistent backing of his new manager.
Raya will, however, be forced to stand aside this weekend given he only joined Arsenal from Brentford on loan with his current club retaining a £27million option to buy next summer.
The decision to put off paying a significant fee in August helped Arsenal avoid breaking Financial Fair Play rule but does mean Raya will be ineligible to play against his parent club on Saturday.
Arsenal legend and former England No.1 David Seaman, meanwhile, is hopeful that Ramsdale will grab his opportunity and reassert his position in Arteta’s pecking order.
‘Going into next summer, where Aaron is really pushing to become England goalkeeper – he needs to be playing,’ said Seaman.
‘If Aaron goes in at the weekend, then he’s left out for the next game, then we know who Mikel’s number one is,” added Seaman, who won three league titles in 13 years at the Gunners.
‘It’s not good for Aaron. He’s a top-class goalkeeper, there’s no doubt about that. I think January will be a bit too soon [for a move away],” he said.
‘It’s the game after this weekend, that’s where we will find a lot of answers. From what Mikel was saying when he brought Raya in, when he talked about rotating goalkeepers in games, which I still found a bit bizarre, we’ll have to wait and see after this game.
‘Aaron’s too good to be a number two, that is for sure.’