"You have to be at your best" - Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal star isn't under any more pressure than his fellow teammates 

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta understands the talk surrounding his decision to replace Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya but insists it's no different to replacing an outfield player.

Raya has become Arteta's No.1 this season, making seven appearances and keeping four clean sheets. The Spanish goalkeeper was signed by the Gunners from Brentford on loan in the summer with a view to a permanent £27 million deal.

The 27-year-old impressed during the start of displacing Ramsdale in the Gunners' goal. But, he has come off the boil as of late, particularly shaky in his side's 2-2 draw against Chelsea on Saturday (October 21).

Arteta has acknowledged the pressure that comes with playing for a big club. He said ahead of Arsenal's clash with Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League (via the club's official website):

"There is a pressure of playing for big clubs where you have to win and you have to be at your best, and you have someone next to you that is pushing you every single day."

However, Arteta argued that questions over the goalkeeping situation can also be thrown at his alterations to his starting XI beyond his shot-stopper. Jorginho has lacked game time since joining from Chelsea in January while Gabriel Jesus has been forced out wide due to injuries:

"But we can go player by player or position by position - you will tell me what's happening with the left-back, the holding midfielder - you’ve asked Jorginho a question already - and Gabriel Jesus is here and there’s another question on that."

Arteta concluded by insisting the beauty of football comes from debates over such decisions:

"That’s the debate and that’s the beauty of the game as well and the fact that you have a lot of options is going to make those talks more frequent."

Arsenal have started the season strongly, with six wins and three draws in nine games in the league, sitting third. They'll look to get back to winning ways in the Champions League tonight (October 24) against Sevilla after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Lens on Matchday 2.

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Rio Ferdinand doesn't agree with Arteta's stance over Arsenal's goalkeeping situation

Rio Ferdinand thinks goalkeepers need to know their standing.

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has explained how a goalkeeper is usually always aware of whether they're No. 1 or not. His comments alluded to Raya displacing Ramsdale although Arteta has never confirmed the change is a permanent one. He said:

"There has not been a point in any goalkeeper's career right from the grassroots to all the way to the first team in professional football has a goalkeeper been told that, ‘You two I don't know who is my no.1 and you are going to have to fight out.'"

Ramsdale impressed for Arsenal last season, keeping 15 clean sheets in 41 games across competitions. The English shot-stopper is aware of the need for game time ahead of the Three Lions' trip to Germany for the European Championships next year.