Mikel Arteta told he made huge Arsenal mistake ahead of North London Derby vs Tottenham

Football is a simple game on the surface. Win and everyone is happy. However, we all know that it goes far deeper than just the 22 players on the field and this is no video game where the emotions of those on the field need never be considered.

Mikel Arteta has made the call to overhaul the goalkeeping department this season with the arrival of David Raya, replacing Matt Turner who joined Nottingham Forest. Although the Spaniard had to make do with a place on the bench for the first few fixtures, he has suddenly been thrust into the spotlight perhaps both earlier and with more attention than he anticipated.

Raya started and kept a clean sheet against Everton last weekend and followed it up with a second successive shutout against PSV in the Champions League. Many supporters have revelled in this ruthless call by Arteta to drop Aaron Ramsdale after the international break and play a keeper who, according to last season’s statistics at least, is considered a slight improvement on the England international.

David Raya's honest response to in-game Arsenal goalkeeper substitution after Mikel Arteta comments

Yet, I find myself with some question marks over the selection on Wednesday night and I know I am not alone. This needs prefacing and is certainly no criticism of Raya or the opportunity he is being given, furthermore, I’d certainly like to see him start the derby on Sunday although the Arsenal manager has confirmed that no decision has been made on who will be between the sticks.

I feel it was perhaps a slight oversight not to play Ramsdale against PSV. The former Sheffield United man was pivotal in Arsenal’s rise in the past two seasons from a side finishing outside the European places entirely to leading the league for much