EPL: I find it implausible – Rio Ferdinand on Arteta’s decision to drop Arsenal star

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s decision to drop Aaron Ramsdale for David Raya may be detrimental to the England goalkeeper.

Arteta made the courageous call to displace Ramsdale with Raya in Arsenal’s Premier League 1-0 win against Everton on September 17.

Raya has been No.1 since then and uncertainty is growing over his new understudy’s future.

Speaking on the development, Ferdinand said on his Vibe with FIVE podcast: “The way Raya has come in and taken the no.1 spot, Ramsdale is going to be sitting there thinking that he is standing on an icy ground.

“So whenever he ends up playing a difficult ball and it gets cut out he is going to think what is the manager thinking, what is his body language, and what is his mannerisms suggesting.

“Every goalkeeper in the league or anywhere in the world are a 100% certain that they are no.1. So to change and flip that and expect the goalkeeper to be okay with it, I find it implausible. Players are different, they are never a 100% sure, a couple of bad games and you can get replaced and that is understood.”