Arsenal icon Arsene Wenger on Mikel Arteta strategy: 'It's a lack of clarity...that doesn't work'

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger attends a state banquet at the Palace of Versailles, hosted by President and Madame Macron, on September 20, 2023 in Versailles, France. The King and Queen's first state visit to France will take place in Paris, Versailles and Bordeaux from Wednesday 20th to Friday 23rd 2023. The visit had been initially scheduled for March 26th - 29th but had to be postponed due to mass strikes and protests (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Legendary former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has questioned current Gunners boss Mikel Arteta's policy of rotating his goalkeepers.

Aaron Ramsdale began the season between the sticks for Arsenal but his since lost his place to summer signing David Raya.

Raya has started the Gunners' last nine Premier and Champions League games, with Ramsdale's only appearance since mid-September coming in a Carabao Cup Round Three win away to Brentford, who Raya left to join Arsenal on loan in August.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks on during the UEFA Champions League match between Sevilla FC and Arsenal FC at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on October 24, 2023 in Seville, Spain.

Mikel Arteta was signed by Arsene Wenger (Image credit: Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Raya's season-long loan contains the option to buy next summer, but it seems that Arteta has yet to make a decision on who he sees as his long-term number one.

The Spaniard has insisted that he will rotate his compatriot and Ramsdale as he sees fit – an approach Wenger does not like, telling beIN Sports: "I don’t believe in rotating goalkeeper; it’s a lack of clarity of the hierarchy.

"That doesn’t work unless the hierarchy exists until you say, ‘Look, it’s two or three bad performances and now it’s a change and I give a chance to the other one’. The hierarchy has to be clear."

David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale in training for Arsenal.

David Raya (left) is keeping Aaron Ramsdale out of the Arsenal team as things stand (Image credit: Alamy)

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Since being dropped, Ramsdale has been linked with a move away from Arsenal in 2024.

Chelsea are said to be keen on the England international, amid doubts over their own summer arrival in goal: Robert Sanchez.

Ramsdale, 25, joined Arsenal from Sheffield United two years ago in a deal worth up to £30m – which would make him the Gunners' most expensive 'keeper of all time.

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Tom Hancock

Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...