Ramsdale will return to bench as Raya's stats support Arteta's resolve

AARON RAMSDALE has "lost his smile", according to his father - and it is unlikely a rare start at Brentford on Saturday will cheer him up for long.

- Simon Collings

 

David Raya has established himself as Arsenal No1, and Ramsdale appears to be fighting a losing battle in his bid to convince Mikel Arteta he should be first-choice.

Loan signing Raya is ineligible to face his parent club, so Ramsdale will come back in at Gtech Community Stadium. But Ramsdale is likely to be back on the bench for next week's Champions League game against Lens and, realistically, might not play again until the FA Cup in January.

The situation has thrown his future into doubt. Gareth Southgate has warned Ramsdale could lose his place in the England squad ahead of the Euros, and he could seek a January move to get regular action.

Arsenal legend David Seaman, who has an informal coaching role at the club, said this week Ramsdale is "too good to be a No2". Seaman added a January move would be "too soon", but it feels inevitable that Ramsdale will eventually leave, with Raya expected to make his loan move permanent for £27million next summer.

Much has been made about Arteta's ruthless decision to axe Ramsdale, after he played a key role in last season's title bid, was in the PFA Team of the Year, had seemingly done little wrong and signed a long-term contract in May.