Aaron Ramsdale welcomes competition from David Raya at Arsenal

Arsenal have agreed a £30m deal with Brentford for goalkeeper David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale insists he welcomes the competition. After their opening bid was rejected earlier this month, Arsenal have now agreed a fee for the Spaniard who will undergo a medical with the club this week.

Ramsdale has impressed since his own £30m move to Arsenal from Sheffield United two years ago and the 25-year-old is adamant that he is unfazed by the prospect of competing for his starting role with Raya.

Ramsdale: ‘Bring it on’

When asked about Arsenal’s push to sign a new goalkeeper, Ramsdale told ITV Sport: ‘Bring it on. Nothing comes easy in football. But also at the same time you need to move along and adapt as well. I’ve done it to other people when I’ve moved to clubs. I’m not going to be thinking that it’s never going to happen to me. So, yeah, I think if it happens, it happens and then we’ll fight and we’ll make each other the best version of ourselves because that’s what the manager is telling us as well.’

Ramsdale ready to fight for his place

Ramsdale is determined to fight for his place at Arsenal and is keen to make the most of the competition from Raya. He believes that having a strong goalkeeping union will help him and Raya reach their full potential.

Ramsdale added: ‘I’m sure whoever plays, me, Matt [Turner], whoever comes in, the goalkeeping union, people will laugh at but it’s a real thing, and your individual disappointment will go away and you’ll put the team first and you’ll put that goalkeeper first as well.’

Arsenal open their Premier League season on Saturday

Raya could be available for Arsenal’s Premier League season opener against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The Gunners will be hoping to improve on their eighth place finish last season and will be looking to make a strong start to the campaign.

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