Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he could change his goalkeepers in future Premier League matches following his side’s 1-0 win over Everton.
Arteta signed David Rye on a summer loan, signing for his debut in place of England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale at Goodison Park, and the Spaniard barely featured as Leandro Trossard’s only second-half goal proved decisive.
When asked about his decision to start at Raya, Gunners head coach Arteta said: “The same explanation as why Fabio (Vieira) played here, Eddie (Nketiah) or Gabriel Jesus.
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— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 17, 2023
“I didn’t have a single question about why Gabriel Jesus didn’t start. He won more trophies in that dressing room than anyone else, including me.”
Arteta, whose side were far from convincing after extending their unbeaten start to the season with a fourth league win, said he was prepared to use two goalkeepers in the same match.
“I can’t have two players at each position and not play them,” he said. “David has amazing qualities, as does Aaron, as does Karl (Hayne) and we have to use them.
“I’m a very young manager, I’ve only been in this role for three and a half years and I have few regrets about what we’ve done.
“One of them is that twice after the 60th and 85th minutes in two games during this period I felt the need to change the goalkeeper at that moment, but I did not.
“I didn’t have the courage to do it. But I can take a striker or a striker, bring back a centre-back and move to a back five to maintain that result.
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— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 17, 2023
“And we drew these games, and I was so unhappy, and someone is going to do it, and maybe (the reaction) will be, ‘Oh! This is weird. Why?’
“Why not? Tell me why not. You have all the qualities of another goalkeeper and you want to do something to change the situation, do it.
“I regret it and I want everyone to be involved in the team. They must play regardless of competition. Do it. This is my message.”
Everton defended bravely but made little progress and rarely threatened to score their first Premier League goal in three matches at Goodison this season.
The Toffees’ one point from five matches is their worst return since the 1994/95 season and manager Sean Dyche admits he would have expected a better return at this stage.
“I thought we would have more points by this point, but you can’t give the ball away so many times,” he said.
“That communication was missing during the transition and we were not effective enough. We miss soft goals.
“Our growth is where we are. There is reality. Nothing was decided last season. I said there was a lot of work to be done.”