Ben Foster RIPS into Arsenal’s ‘pathetic’ signing of David Raya… with ex-Man United and Wrexham star adamant Aaron Ramsdale is ‘as good as anyone in this country’ when on top form

Arsenal’s move for David Raya has been labelled ‘pathetic’ by ex-Manchester United and Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster. 

The 27-year-old Spain international joined from Brentford on a season-long deal in a move that cost the Gunners £3million and can be made permanent next year for £27m.

Raya was Brentford’s No 1 and has arrived to elevate competition for places with Aaron Ramsdale, a decision that Mikel Arteta has defended amid fierce criticism this month.

But Foster absolutely ‘hates’ the move and believes it lacks logic given the quality of Ramsdale.  

‘I hate it, it’s pathetic. It’s something that didn’t need to happen, right. They did not need to sign David Raya,’ Foster said on his YouTube channel this week.

Aaron Ramsdale (left) is now in competition with David Raya (right) to stay as Arsenal No 1

Ex-Man United goalkeeper Ben Foster labelled the Raya signing as ‘pathetic’, and one he ‘hates’

‘He’s [Ramsdale] been a top goalie for two years. He’s on the edge of being England’s number one with Jordan Pickford, he’s right there. 

‘When he’s full of confidence and he’s got a manager putting his arm around him, he’s as good as anyone in this country.’ 

Foster is not alone in criticising the move for Raya, joining the likes of former Premier League goalkeepers Peter Schmeichel and Shay Given in suggesting it is a bad idea. 

So far Ramsdale has maintained the No 1 spot ahead of Raya but there is the sense that a mistake could see Arteta swap them around, which irks Foster, Given and others.  

Earlier this month Arteta strongly defended the signing, insisting it is a ‘necessity’ for growth, and not in fact a ‘gamble’. 

‘There is not another way,’ Arteta said.

Mikel Arteta believes the Raya signing is a ‘necessity’ rather than a ‘gamble’ for the squad

‘The difference between tier one and what you call ‘tier-two players’ is too big. How do you resolve that? We can bring excellent players from the academy but unfortunately today we don’t have somebody so ready to make that step.

‘We have to create that environment. It’s not a competition, it’s to raise the level and the demands that we are going to be facing.’

He added: ‘When you see the other squads, where they have two very good goalkeepers, they spend £60m, £80m, £85million on goalkeepers. What does that mean? We want to do it in our own way and I’m extremely happy with the squad that we are building.

‘We are going to keep building a better squad. That is what the game is going to require, what the Premier League and Champions League are going to require. It’s very simple.’