Peter Schmeichel lashes out at Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta over decision to sign David Raya from Brentford on loan

Former Manchester United No. 1 Peter Schmeichel has accused Mikel Arteta of endangering his No. 1 goalkeeper’s confidence with the signing of David Raya on loan from Brentford.

Brentford have agreed to let Raya join Arsenal on an initial loan of £3 million with a £27 million option to buy.

Despite Aaron Ramsdale’s stellar performances between the sticks, Mikel Arteta is thought to be keen for the England international to face tougher competition.

But Schmeichel is at his wits end, and the Dane is convinced it will only bring more uncertainty, rather than more competition between the players.

“I don’t get it at all,” Schmeichel said BBC Radio 5 live.

“I can’t understand how a manager can come to the conclusion that it’s great to have competition for the number 1 shirt.

‘The goalkeeper’s position is very reactive. You can’t create anything on your own, you have to wait for things to happen.

“You are now asking your keeper to prove that you are better than the other one. That means you have to start doing things now, and you don’t want that. It’s the one position on the field where you just want to be stable.

“If you have a competitive situation, he plays that game for himself and for that position, and I don’t understand that.

“What you’re doing is you’re creating a lot of uncertainty for them both.”

Schmeichel added: “At the same time, with two challenges for number one, you also potentially create a bad atmosphere in the dressing room, because it is a straight competition between two guys who will start or not play.

“They need to know if things go wrong, which happens every now and then, everyone makes a mistake and everyone costs a goal, which the manager says, ‘that’s fine, mate, you’re still my number one.’ You must have that confidence. If you don’t do that, you can’t perform 100 percent for the team.’

Arteta has long been keen to provide more internal competition for places and Raya will no doubt add quality to the goalkeeping department after an excellent season at Brentford.

The 27-year-old’s £30 million price tag sees Brentford make a huge profit on the initial £2.7 million they paid Blackburn for the goalkeeper in 2019, as the Bees’ money-ball approach to investing in talent early and resell for a higher amount pays off again.

Brentford was initially left with £40 million and turned down Arsenal’s opening bid for their shot-stopper before conceding they would agree to sell for less.

Barcelona-born Raya is in his prime and possesses a ball game style that fits well with Arteta’s game plan at Arsenal.

He played in all of Brentford’s Premier League games last season as the Bees finished ninth in the top flight, just one point behind Tottenham.

Raya also kept 12 clean sheets in the Premier League last season, two fewer than Ramsdale, and was also courted by Manchester United before they recruited Andre Onana.