- Arsenal number 1 David Raya made two big mistakes against Luton on Tuesday
- His deputy, Aaron Ramsdale, was caught smiling midway through the match
- Manchester United is like a rotten window frame that you paint over to make it look better, but the problem is still there. It all starts
Fans believe Aaron Ramsdale was laughing on the substitutes' bench moments after Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper David Raya shouted against Luton.
Raya, who joined on loan from Brentford last summer, has established himself as Mikel Arteta's preferred choice between the sticks at the Emirates despite making a handful of significant mistakes since being trusted.
Ramsdale, who played all 38 league matches during Arsenal's title chase last season, has since been dropped to the bench to make way for the Spaniard.
The goalkeeper's father last month criticized Arteta's handling of the situation, saying: “My son has lost his smile.”
But the England shot-stopper appeared jovially on the Arsenal bench on Monday evening as the Gunners recorded a late 4-3 win at Kenilworth Road thanks to an injury-time winner from summer signing Declan Rice.
David Raya made two big mistakes on Tuesday, first fluttering from a cross for Luton's second goal
Raya later made another blunder when he failed to convert Ross Barkley's third goal for Luton
During the match, Amazon Prime television cameras caught Arsenal's backup goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale (above) smiling before quickly switching to a sheepish expression.
During the match, fans claimed that Ramsdale laughed at his competitor after the Spaniard made a blunder in the match.
Amazon Prime TV footage panned to Ramsdale during the second half and caught the goalkeeper smiling before appearing to switch to a sheepish expression as he realized the cameras were on him.
Of course, there's no evidence to suggest that Ramsdale was actually making fun of Raya or his mistake, but fans have suspected that the two moments are related.
Raya's performance came under intense pressure on Tuesday after he flapped in Alfie Doughty's corner to allow Elija Adebayo to score the equalizer at 2-2.
The goalkeeper then failed to stop a Ross Barkley strike, allowing the ball to pass under him and give Luton a 3–2 lead.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta refused to blame his new No. 1 goalkeeper for the mistakes
After the match, Arteta was asked about the two errors by a reporter, who said: 'There is a lot of talk about the goalkeeper situation at the moment. Is it fair to say two goals have been gifted to Luton?'
But Arteta bluntly turned away from the answer, before giving an icy response and replying: “I'm so happy with the team.”
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points ahead of Liverpool's away game with Sheffield United on Wednesday.
The Gunners travel to Villa Park on Saturday to take on in-form Aston Villa, who sit fourth in the Premier League, ahead of Wednesday's match against champions Manchester City.