Robin Bairner
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal
© IMAGO
Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday night at the hands of PSG, going down 3-1 on aggregate, and after the game manager Mikel Arteta dropped a hint at a surprise player who could find his position at the Emirates under threat.
The Gunners performed well in Paris but were unable to take advantage of their spells of dominance, with goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi pushing the hosts into a 2-0 advantage.
Although Bukayo Saka scrambled one back, he missed a great chance shortly afterwards and the game drifted away from Arsenal.
Arteta hailed his players after the match, but when speaking to BeIN Sports suggested that goalkeeper David Raya’s place is under threat.
“It wasn’t just in the game, but in the tie, they had the same man of the match two times, which was the keeper,” the Arsenal manager said, referring to Gianluigi Donnarumma, the PSG No.1.
“That’s the story of the tie.
“What we did is unbelievable given the condition of the squad. At the same time, I’m frustrated and upset because I wanted to be in the final. Today, we showed we had enough to be there.”
Arteta: You need a keeper who wins you a tie
Arteta was asked about the strong start Arsenal made, and his reply makes for worrying reading for Raya.
“Normally in any other game, you’d be 2- or 3-0 up. But again, if you want to win the Euros, the World Cup, the Champions League, you need a keeper who wins you a tie. This competition is defined in the boxes, it’s clear, and Donnarumma did it for them,” Arteta said.
Arsenal are not expected to move for a first-choice goalkeeper this summer, with a striker and a central midfielder thought to be higher up their list.
A number of recent incidents, however, suggest that a new shot-stopper might just be creeping up Arteta’s list of priorities, with Raya struggling for form at this juncture.
Espanyol’s Joan Garcia has been tipped to arrive at Arsenal, but this is thought to be in a capacity to bring competition to the squad.
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