Former England footballer, Darren Bent has advised Mikel Arteta against fielding Kepa Arrizabalaga for the remainder of Arsenal’s season, asserting that David Raya should be the starting goalkeeper for every match.
Following their exit from the FA Cup after a 2-1 loss to Southampton last Saturday, Arsenal still holds a viable opportunity to secure victories in both the Premier League and the Champions League this season.
Currently, Mikel Arteta’s team enjoys a nine-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League standings, while the Gunners achieved a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP on Tuesday evening.
This weekend, Arsenal will refocus on the Premier League as they prepare to host Bournemouth for a 12:30pm kick-off on Saturday.
Bent, a former Premier League striker, has urged Arteta to rely on his dependable players for the remainder of the season, labeling Gabriel Jesus as a ‘passenger’ during the recent defeat to Southampton.
“The performance was concerning, as many players I have praised this season, such as [Cristhian] Mosquera, who has performed well when [William] Saliba has been unavailable, appeared nervous against Southampton,” Bent remarked on talkSPORT.
“Gabriel [Magalhaes] seemed a bit anxious, possibly due to Saliba’s absence beside him, and did not display his usual form.
“As for Gabriel Jesus…I am uncertain why we continue to persist; it has not been effective for approximately three years, yet we are still trying… I understand the need to provide players with game time, but this approach is not yielding results.
“As I mentioned, [Max] Dowman was the only player who impressed me, as he demonstrated some potential.
“Cease utilizing Kepa. While it may not entirely be his fault, I do not wish to see Kepa on the pitch again this season.”