{"id":315222,"date":"2026-04-08T09:21:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T03:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=315222"},"modified":"2026-04-08T09:21:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T03:51:21","slug":"darren-bent-tells-mikel-arteta-to-drop-arsenal-star-i-dont-need-to-see-him-again-this-season-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/04\/08\/darren-bent-tells-mikel-arteta-to-drop-arsenal-star-i-dont-need-to-see-him-again-this-season-football\/","title":{"rendered":"Darren Bent tells Mikel Arteta to drop Arsenal star: ‘I don’t need to see him again this season’ | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Darren Bent insists David Raya should start all of Arsenal\u2019s games for the remaining of the season (PA Wire)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Darren Bent believes Mikel Arteta mustn’t play Kepa Arrizabalaga for the rest of Arsenal\u2019s season and insists David Raya should start every game.<\/p>\n

After crashing out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat away to Southampton last Saturday, Arsenal are still in with a likelihood of winning the Premier League and the Champions League this season.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta\u2019s side currently have a nine-point cushion over Manchester City at the highest of the Premier League, while the Gunners sealed a 1-0 win in the primary leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

Arsenal now turn their attention back to the Premier League this weekend as they host Bournemouth in Saturday\u2019s 12:30pm kick-off.<\/p>\n

Former Premier League striker Bent has called on Arteta to stick to his trusted players for the rest of the campaign, and described Gabriel Jesus as a \u2018passenger\u2019 within the defeat to Southampton last wekend.<\/p>\n

\u2018It was just worrying, the performance, because there have been so many players who I even have lauded this season, like [Cristhian] Mosquera, every time he has are available in to play when [William] Saliba has been injured, at times he\u2019s looked really good, he looked like he was nervous against Southampton,\u2019 Bent told talkSPORT.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"SOUTHAMPTON,\t<\/div>
Darren Bent says Gabriel Jesus was a \u2018passenger\u2019 in Arsenal\u2019s defeat to Southampton within the FA Cup (AMA\/Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Gabriel [Magalhaes], I don\u2019t know if it was because Saliba wasn\u2019t next to him, he looked a little bit bit nervous, not like his normal self.<\/p>\n

\u2018Gabriel Jesus\u2026 I mean, I don\u2019t know why we keep trying, I could\u2019ve told you, it\u2019s not worked for like three years and yet we\u2019re still\u2026 I do know you\u2019ve got to present players minutes but that\u2019s not working.<\/p>\n

\u2018As I said, [Max] Dowman was the just one who I assumed, \u2018he\u2019s got a little bit bit about him\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u2018Stop playing Kepa. I realize it\u2019s not necessarily his fault, but I don\u2019t wish to see Kepa again this season.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tArsenal fixtures in April\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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Bournemouth (H) | Premier League | April 11
Sporting CP (H) | Champions League | April 15
Man City (A) | Premier League | April 19
Newcastle (H) | Premier League | April 25
Potential Champions League semi-final first leg | April 28 or 29<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018As a back-up, perfect. David Raya, between now and the tip of the season, has to play each minute.<\/p>\n

\u2018Even when Arsenal destroy Sporting within the Champions League, next week I would like David Raya in goal. Play him from now in every game until the tip of the season.<\/p>\n

\u2018I understand he\u2019s attempting to play bodies but these players are letting him down, they keep being given opportunities they usually\u2019re not taking them. Gabriel Jesus was like a passenger.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Steven Gerrard urges Liverpool to re-sign \u00a365.5m player: \u2018I\u2019m missing him\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Sporting manager claims Arsenal star \u2018was the perfect player on the pitch\u2019 after Champions League defeat<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Arsenal injury latest as Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Eberechi Eze miss Sporting match<\/span><\/p>\n

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