Rio Ferdinand says Arsenal missed the ‘best goalkeeper on the planet’ David Raya during their Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
Arsenal No. 1 Raya was benched at Wembley on Sunday as Mikel Arteta continued to place his faith in cup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The choice backfired, nonetheless, with Arrizabalaga making a poor mistake to gift Manchester City a gap goal within the 2-0 defeat.
Arteta defended his team selection after the sport and insisted he didn’t regret picking Arrizabalaga ahead of Raya, who has been good since joining Arsenal from Brentford.
But Ferdinand has criticised Arteta’s ‘sentimental’ decision and says Raya – who he rates because the ‘best goalkeeper on the planet’ – could have swung the Carabao Cup final in Arsenal’s favour.
‘We will discuss Kepa’s mistake but those can occur in any game,’ Manchester United and England legend Ferdinand said on his podcast.
‘But greater than anything he was the massive issue when it comes to Arsenal getting through the press.
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‘I feel at once David Raya is the most effective goalkeeper in world football and if he plays, his distribution would have been a giant, big factor in that game.
‘He would have played over Man City’s press, he would have played through at times, he would have taken risks and would have been capable of put a component of doubt into City’s press.
‘Giving an opposition that sort of mindset makes them less convinced sometimes and provides them less conviction when they’re attempting to perform Pep’s tactical approach.
‘Arsenal didn’t cope with that little bit of pressure one bit.’
Discussing Arteta’s decision to start out Arrizabalaga, Ferdinand added: ‘I feel Mikel Arteta will look back and think he was too sentimental.
‘I do know he’s played within the previous rounds but I don’t agree with it. Man City could afford to because they’ve won enough trophies recently but Arsenal are attempting to construct a winning culture.
‘This was a giant moment, the primary trophy on offer within the season and he’s let it slip through his fingers.
‘The error was bad but tactically it was obvious to see that David Raya would have been a mark-up due to his ability together with his feet.
‘We will discuss how good Raya is at shot-stopping and claiming crosses but his bravery on the ball has been sensational this 12 months and that may have altered Man City’s tactics.
‘Arsenal have been a confident back-four and Raya makes it a confident back-five. The frailties on the back given Kepa’s mistake and his inability to play out was glaring to see.’
Reacting to Arrizabalaga’s Wembley mistake and defending his decision after the defeat, Arteta said: ‘I made a choice before the sport based on what he has done all season, the very fact he has played within the competition and helped us be where we’re today.
‘It will have been very unfair to decide on a unique one. I actually have to do what I feel is correct, honest and fair.
‘I imagine it’s the precise thing to do and that’s it. Errors are a part of football and today it happened unfortunately in a vital moment.’
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