Didi Hamann now questions if Arsenal can win a ‘big title’ as a Mikel Arteta signing’s displays do not fill the one-time Champions League winner with a lot of ‘confidence’.
The Gunners have all of their eggs in the Premier League basket after crashing out of Europe on Wednesday night. Bayern Munich dealt Arsenal a 3-2 loss on aggregate in the Champions League quarter-finals. But Arteta needs results to fall in their favour to lift the top-flight title.
Arsenal losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa last Sunday let Manchester City create a two-point gap at the top of the table. It was the north London side’s first defeat in the Premier League in 2024. But they need a team to end the Citizens’ 17-match unbeaten streak to regain first.
Didi Hamann fears David Raya may cost Arsenal a chance to win a ‘big title’
Hamann is not sure if Arsenal have the right foundations to win a ‘big’ title, though, as David Raya often makes him nervous. Arteta signed the goalkeeper on loan from Brentford with an option to buy last August. Even though the Gunners already had Aaron Ramsdale in the net.
Ramsdale also made the PFA’s Team of the Season in the 2022/23 campaign after helping to a shock Premier League title bid. Yet despite him starting in all 38 of their games and having 14 clean sheets, Arteta still felt Raya would present an upgrade if lured to Emirates Stadium.
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But Raya is still yet to totally justify Arteta signing his Spanish compatriot and naming him as Arsenal’s undisputed No1. Now, Hamann even suggests that Raya may cost Arsenal a chance to win a ‘big’ title as while they have a good backline, the 28-year-old might let them down.
“You have to question if this team, and I know it is a very young team, is capable of winning a big title,” Hamann told talkSPORT.
“I think they’ve got a very good defence, but I’m not sure about the ‘keeper. I don’t think you win a big title with a goalkeeper who doesn’t fill me with confidence.”
David Raya has produced an array of errors since he replaced Aaron Ramsdale
Arteta kept his blind faith in Raya through a raft of nervous displays earlier this season after axing Ramsdale. The boss swapped his shot-stoppers following the September international break and has only recalled Ramsdale for their Premier League fixtures with Brentford since.
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But Arteta sticking with Raya despite never looking confident on the ball against Manchester City in October, costing them two goals at Luton Town in December and being in a poor spot to try to save Galeno’s goal for FC Porto in February, the Catalan keeper is still making errors.
Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League to Bayern Munich in no small part due to how Raya performed in the first leg. The four-cap Spain international mindlessly burst out to the half-way and left Gabriel Magalhaes scrambling for a pass which led to Serge Gnabry’s goal.
And while Raya was Arsenal’s hero in their penalty shootout win over Porto in the Round of 16, he dived ludicrously early as Harry Kane converted from the spot to hand Der FCB a 2-1 lead at Emirates Stadium. The striker was not even about to shoot when Raya initially dived.