Brad Friedel thinks Raya’s Arsenal arrival could trigger Ramsdale move and gives fascinating insight into Emi Martinez’s ‘personal turning point’

Former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel spoke exclusively to Ladbrokes about the tricky goalkeeping situation at Arsenal and the Premier League clubs that have done the best business during the summer transfer window.

If Raya becomes Arsenal’s number one, Ramsdale will have to go

I think Chelsea have had a very good transfer window. What was more important than the players they got in this summer, was the ones they got out of the club.

I like Liverpool’s business so far, even though I know they wanted Moises Caicedo. I think someone else in that position will be coming in and it’s really exciting to watch Jurgen Klopp rebuild a squad, because normally he’s not had to do that in previous jobs…this is usually around the time he moves on. I like the business he’s done this summer.

So, for me, it’s Chelsea and Liverpool who have done the best business. Man City, I think, have done a fantastic job of keeping hold of Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker, because they’re two integral parts of the team.

I’m a little bit confused as to the David Raya/Aaron Ramsdale story, and the timing of it. Raya is a fantastic goalkeeper, for sure, but if he goes to Arsenal as their number one, then they’re going to have to shift Ramsdale, so that causes a problem.

I don’t know who I’d rather have in goal out of the two of them, and I think that’s actually one of the main issues. I really don’t know who gets that starting spot. I’m not privy to what’s been said regarding the Raya transfer, between the two clubs, but I can’t believe for a second that Raya would join without knowing he’s at least going to have the chance to play. And, if you’re the out and out number one goalkeeper for a club, you like to have the confidence in knowing that position is yours. Yes, if your form drops, then competition for places is great.

But most number one goalkeepers in the Premier League don’t need to be motivated by other goalkeepers pushing them; they motivate themselves. I actually think it could be really unsettling if Arsenal change things. If Ramsdale is all of a sudden their number two, then it’s unsettling for him, and likewise, if Raya comes in and isn’t starting games, it’s unsettling for him.

You can say what you want about the importance of competition for places for outfield players, but for goalkeepers it’s a completely different thing. You just don’t have two out-and-out number ones, in the prime of their careers, on your books.

‘Dangerous’ new rules will mean every penalty will need retaking

I was watching a game recently in the Leagues Cup, over in the MLS, and the linesman booked Chris Brady, a young goalkeeper for Chicago [Fire], for talking to him during the shoot-out. Or for coming off his line early on one of the kicks… and then you saw a replay, and he wasn’t even off his line early. It just made no sense. It’s a dangerous rule to introduce because if you watch every single penalty from every single shoot-out, you’d have to book every single goalkeeper for leaving the line just a little bit early. Every one, on every single kick. So these guys who sit in the VAR studios and call things back on the penalties… that’s really difficult.

Look, if a goalkeeper comes half a yard, or a yard, off his line, of course, you’re going to say rules are rules. Well, OK. If rules are rules, then you better book every goalkeeper and retake every single penalty that has ever been taken in the world, because every single goalkeeper leaves early.

Cutting down on goalkeepers being able to play these mind games to put off the penalty takers…that’s fine; I don’t mind cutting that out. But when you’re talking specifically on goalkeepers moving early, I just don’t get how you referee that, because, like I said, everyone does it. You’re going to end up sending goalkeepers off for not playing by the rules.

Emi Martinez would be an incredible goalkeeper in this Arsenal team

I was never loud, or off-putting, or anything like that, when it came to shoot-outs or penalties in general. My take was that it was a win-win for me – all of the pressure was on the taker. It’s the one time when the goalkeeper doesn’t get blamed for a goal going in, generally speaking. I spoke with Emi Martinez recently, and we obviously spoke about his performance in that World Cup shoot-out. He’s such a nice guy, and he just said he has to do things to get himself going, and that’s what makes him play better. We’re all built differently, and you have to respect that. Emi works incredibly hard, and he’s one of the best in the world at what he does. That personality is what makes him great.

Emi knew that he was good. He knew he had the talent. He kept wondering why he wasn’t getting chances, and I’m not going to give away what he said to me – he can do that in his own interviews – he finally figured out a way to make his game progress to another level. And when he had the opportunity to go to Villa, you can imagine he wasn’t sure about things at first, especially because they’d just been so close to relegation that previous season. But now he sees exactly how good the club is, and the great position he’s in.

Sometimes goalkeepers blossom a little bit later, and their chances come a little later in life. But we can also play for longer, too.

It’s a shame for Arsenal, and maybe for him, too. Although, perhaps he just wasn’t performing like this at Arsenal in those early days. Either way, it’s a shame because you just feel he would be an incredible goalkeeper in this Arsenal team right now.