'Media are trying to make a rift between Ramsdale and Raya'

Michail Antonio thinks the media have cast a negative spotlight on the competition between Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya and that "they are trying to make a rift between the players".

Both goalkeepers have made four Premier League appearances so far this season, and the West Ham forward said the situation can become more difficult when the media zones in on it.

He told the Footballer's Football Podcast: "It doesn’t help. Basically they are trying to make a rift between the players.

"At the end of the day, they are all one. They are one squad, one team, so they want the team to do well. If he makes a good save, you’re buzzing. If another striker scores, I’m going to be jumping out like well done because they are helping the team achieve something.

"This one has been so big because of how well Arsenal did last year and Ramsdale was their number one. The fact they brought in Raya this year and just threw him in for Premier League games, the media has kind of made it more than it actually is. The manager makes the decision and he has chosen to put Raya in. It’s just what it is."

On Arsenal's decision to sign a goalkeeper of equal standard to Ramsdale in Raya, Antonio added: "As a manager you want someone who can just step in. You want someone at the same talent level as the person who is playing.

"You don’t want to lose a player with injury and the next person is just not good enough. You want a person that can step in and do the job as good as the person you have lost.

"That is one thing [Manchester] City have had over the last few years. They just buy star players so when one player is gone, when you rotate, there is another player who can come and cause chaos anyway. It’s literally what is happening now."

Hear the full discussion from 17'00 on BBC Sounds

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