The notion that Arsenal have developed a "battle" between goalkeepers Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya is "nonsense", according to Jamie Carragher.
Summer signing Raya had started the last 12 games in the Premier League and Europe for the Gunners until Saturday evening, when he was ineligible to face parent club Brentford.
That saw Ramsdale return between the posts yet there were nervy moments early on for the England keeper, particularly after losing the ball in his own six-yard box before Declan Rice bailed him out with a clearance off the line.
Much has been discussed over Mikel Arteta's decision to sign Raya and drop Ramsdale, particularly with the Spanish shot-stopper making errors of his own in recent weeks.
Gary Neville claimed during Saturday's game that Ramsdale's mishap was the result of his tussle over the gloves.
"This is what happens when you have two keepers eating each other!" wrote Neville. "You put them both under pressure."
Aaron Ramsdale is spared blushes by Declan Rice's goal line clearance 😳
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 25, 2023
Brentford so close to an early lead against Arsenal! pic.twitter.com/BcG1VaKOcO
However, fellow pundit Carragher has hit out at the "narrative" around the players and insisted Raya is the first-choice, just as Ramsdale was when signed ahead of Bernd Leno.
"[The] Arteta has created this pressure on his keepers narrative is nonsense!!!!!" he posted on X/Twitter.
"Arteta should improve on his goalkeeper if he feels it’s right, is he supposed to sell the other one the same day?
"He did it with Ramsdale/Leno. There is no battle to be number one, Raya is the number one!!"
Raya is likely to return for Arsenal's Champions League match against Lens on Wednesday but this debate could rumble on.
Neville replied to Carragher's post: "You ever been through it? It’s not nonsense at all…"
