Bye-bye: Arsenal star who won 100% duels v WHU may never play for the club again after latest press conference release by Arteta today
The Carabao Cup was never going to be the main priority for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal this season.
Indeed, the Gunners have bigger fish to fry, namely the Premier League and, of course, their first entry into the Champions League for several years.
The north Londoners are currently unbeaten in league action but on the continental stage and now in the League Cup, they have been below par, excusing the thrashing of PSV.
In Lens, Arsenal dominated the ball in the early exchanges but conceded in front of a raucous home crowd, eventually losing the game after the going got tough. The same occurred at the London Stadium on Wednesday evening.
In the early phases of the game Arteta’s side had over 60% of the ball but couldn’t turn that into anything of note in the final third. An own goal from Ben White set the tone and from that moment onwards, Arsenal looked rather spooked. Apt on Halloween week.
A delightful second from Mohammed Kudus, coincidentally a man linked with Arsenal in the summer, put the tie out of reach before Jarrod Bowen’s deflected effort sprawled past Aaron Ramsdale, a man visibly lacking confidence in east London.
A 3-1 defeat means Arsenal aren’t in the hat for the quarter-finals and with it could go Ramsdale’s career at the Emirates Stadium. Since David Raya displaced him between the sticks the EFL Cup is the only competition the England stopper has gained any minutes in.
Aaron Ramsdale’s stats vs West Ham
This was a tremendous night for Ramsdale to prove himself to everyone. Arteta has clearly doubted his abilities, as too have several pundits. That said, the fans have stuck by a player who has provided the club with some memorable moments since signing.
There is a reason he was among the nominees for the best goalkeeper in the world at the recent Ballon d’Or awards. Think of that sprawling save to deny Mo Salah at Anfield last term, and then that point-blank stop to deny Ibrahima Konate from the resulting set-play. It was Ramsdale at his brilliant and mesmerising best.
That said, on the ball he leaves something to be desired, as does his ability to come and claim crosses. Both of those flaws were in evidence against the Hammers in midweek.
