Mikel Arteta’s decision to start David Raya explained after Piers Morgan slams Aaron Ramsdale humiliation

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta started David Raya ahead of Aaron Ramsdale for Sunday's clash at Everton because he is better at claiming crosses.

That is the view of ex-Gunners midfielder Adrian Clarke, who also believes Arteta will chop and change his goalkeepers throughout the season.

Eyebrows were raised when Ramsdale was left out of the line-up at Goodison Park having started the previous 76 Premier League matches for the north Londoners.

Arsenal fan and broadcaster Piers Morgan took to social media to accuse Arteta of humiliating the England international, who hasn't done anything wrong this season.

He posted: «I don’t understand what Ramsdale has done to deserve being dropped?

»[Kai] Havertz, yes… but Ramsdale’s been consistently superb for us. Why humiliate him?"

Speaking after the 1-0 win, Arteta insisted that it was a regret of his last campaign that he couldn't change his goalkeeper at will.

And following the initial loan signing of Raya from Brentford, he now has two top-quality shot-stoppers at his disposal.

And Clarke, who came through Arsenal's academy and now works for their in-house media team, has insisted no malice was intended towards Ramsdale following his omission.

Speaking on the talkSPORT Breakfast Show, he said: «I don't see it as anything sinister, honestly, I genuinely don't.

»I think that Mikel Arteta wants to use them both, he's got two really good goalkeepers. I don't think there's much between them if I'm honest.

«And I think he's thinking about, and he talked about this after the game, he said he's got a couple of regrets about not changing his goalkeeper during a game, a couple of times last season to close things out, I think was the context of it.

»A little but like he used to put Rob Holding on — extra