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Mikel Arteta has explained why he was \u201csure\u201d Arsenal needed to sign David Raya to replace Aaron Ramsdale during the 2023 summer window.<\/p>\n
Arsenal<\/strong> are coming off winning the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years and could lift the Champions League for the first time in their history this weekend when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the final.<\/p>\n Head coach Arteta<\/strong> has done a brilliant job at rebuilding Arsenal and turning them into one of the best teams in Europe, and he has made several brutal transfer decisions to reach this stage.<\/p>\n One such transfer was made during the 2023 summer transfer window, with Arteta opting to sign Raya to replace Ramsdale.<\/p>\n Some felt this was needless at the time because Ramsdale did little wrong as Arsenal\u2019s No.1, but Raya has been proven a huge upgrade in recent seasons.<\/p>\n Now, Arteta has explained why he opted to push so hard for Arsenal to sign Raya.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a good example of what a manager needs,\u201d Arteta told Gary Neville on The Overlap about signing Raya to replace Ramsdale.<\/p>\n READ: Arsenal p*ss it, managergeddon, Spurs nonsense, Palace 12th \u2013 10 kneejerk predictions for next season<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI was very convinced that we had to make a change. Not because Aaron didn\u2019t have the quality, because I believed to go to the next level that we needed a different profile of goalkeeper.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was very difficult to explain, difficult to explain upstairs and externally. It could maybe not make sense. That\u2019s when you need a sporting director, in this case Edu to say, \u201cMikel, are you 100 per cent sure?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI went through it with him again and again. \u2018You know you\u2019re going to have an issue.\u2019 I know. \u2018Mikel, you\u2019re going to expose yourself.\u2019 I know. \u2018You really want to do this?\u2019 Yes, please do.<\/p>\n \u201cEdu really convinced the board because they need to be convinced and to understand. \u2018Mikel says this, ok let\u2019s do it.\u2019 It doesn\u2019t work like this.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then it has to work. And then Inaki (Cana, goalkeeping coach) played a pivotal role because he knew him from Brentford and many years.<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t sure if it was going to work or not but David is going to present himself and dedicate himself to the cause and be an incredible ambassador for the club. I was sure.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: Arteta sack despite one title tip, Man Utd ignored and Delap for Golden Boot \u2013 pre-season predictions revisited<\/strong><\/p>\n Arteta was also asked to reflect on winning the Premier League title and he acknowledged that it has been \u201cincredible\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been much better than I could ever imagine, it\u2019s been so emotional, so natural, and to see that much joy, happiness and pride around the club, it\u2019s just amazing,\u201d Arteta added on winning the Premier League title.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of joy and relief, when you are able to take the club and make the right steps, and take it really close, it\u2019s great, but it\u2019s not what we\u2019re looking for, and I know at this club, that is not enough.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, to actually do it, it feels amazing and gives a lot of value to a lot of people who have contributed to achieve that.<\/p>\n \u201cPersonally, to be a part of delivering something that means so much after 22 years, it\u2019s just incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n READ NEXT: Three reasons why everyone hates \u2018threatening\u2019 Arsenal<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\u201cIt\u2019s been better than I could ever imagine\u2026\u201d<\/h2>\n