# Jamie Carragher Backs Mikel Arteta’s Decision to Sign David Raya for Arsenal
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been under fire for his decision to sign goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford in the summer. Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has criticised the move, claiming that Arteta is creating a problem by having two first-choice options in his squad. However, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has backed Arteta’s decision and believes that Raya is a better goalkeeper than Aaron Ramsdale, who was Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper before Raya’s arrival.
## Arsenal Sign David Raya on Loan with Option to Buy
Raya joined Arsenal on loan from Brent in the summer, while the Gunners have the option to make the deal permanent for £27 million at the end of the season. Ramsdale started Arsenal first four Premier League games but Raya was brought in for his debut in the 1-0 win over Everton on Sunday and the Spaniard kept his place in the team for their Champions League opener against PSV on Wednesday evening.
## Peter Schmeichel Criticises Arteta’s Decision
Schmeichel told CBS Sports: ‘I don’t get it, I don’t understand why you want to create a competition situation for goalkeepers, The one thing you want from your goalkeeper is stability. So goalkeepers are playing a position which is very reactive, there’s no proactive action happening, everything you have to do is something you have to do when somebody else is doing something, you have to react to that, you can’t be proactive and go out and create a save for yourself. I don’t get this, I think it’s crazy and I think Arteta might just be creating a problem he didn’t need going forward.’
## Jamie Carragher Backs Arteta’s Decision
Carragher hit back at Schmeichel’s criticism and believes Arteta has simply upgraded his Arsenal side by signing Raya. ‘I understand having two goalkeepers of a similar ability, I understand mentally it might be a problem for the goalkeeper,’ Carragher said. ‘But surely if Mikel Arteta thinks he can get a better goalkeeper in the building, he has to make that signing to make Arsenal a better team.’ When asked by Schmeichel if he thinks Raya is a better goalkeeper than Ramsdale, Carragher replied: ‘100 per cent. Arsenal will never win the league with Ramsdale in goal, no chance. Ramsdale is playing for Arsenal and he can’t even get in the England team.’
## Conclusion
It remains to be seen whether Arteta’s decision to sign Raya will pay off for Arsenal, but it appears that Carragher believes it was the right move. With Raya now firmly established as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper, it will be interesting to see how he performs over the course of the season.