Arsenal icon David Seaman picks out game that will determine who is Mikel Arteta’s first choice goalkeeper
David Seaman has suggested that Mikel Arteta's goalkeeping selection against Lens will reveal who his true no.1 is at the club.
Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya are both competing for the starting spot in between the sticks at the Gunners this season.
Ramsdale had been first choice for the club since he signed from Sheffield United in 2021 but he has been usurped in recent weeks.
Arteta has opted to start Raya over him instead, with the Spaniard joining on loan from Brentford in the summer.
As per Premier League loan rules, he won't be able to start against the Bees in their clash this weekend, meaning Ramsdale will return.
However, Seaman suggests that if the England international is then dropped for the Champions League clash against Lens next week, then he is not Arteta's no.1.
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"If Aaron goes in at the weekend, then he's left out for the next game, then we know who Mikel's number one is," he told BBC Sport.
"It's not good for Aaron. He's a top-class goalkeeper, there's no doubt about that."
Seaman also spoke on Ramsdale's chances of starting for England at Euro 2024 next summer if his lack of game time continues.
"If he's not playing [for Arsenal], it's going to affect his [England] chances," said the Gunners legend.
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"Going into next summer, where Aaron is really pushing to become England goalkeeper, he needs to be playing."
"I think January will be a bit too soon [for a move away]," Seaman, who made 533 appearances in goal for Arsenal, added. "It's the game after this weekend, that's where we will find a lot of answers.
"From what Mikel was saying when he brought Raya in, when he talked about rotating goalkeepers in games, which I still found a bit bizarre, we'll have to wait and see after this game. Aaron's too good to be a no.2, that is for sure."
Arsenal's home clash against Lens on November 29 will be their fifth match of the Champions League group stage.
Raya has started all of their continental games this season, with Ramsdale therefore sitting on the bench as a result.
A tough test away at Brentford stands in their way first though, with Arsenal sitting third in the Premier League table after 12 games.
Manchester City and Liverpool clash earlier on Saturday, live on talkSPORT, and if they draw, a Gunners win would send them top.