Dream Team managers risk HUGE error selecting game’s second-most popular goalkeeper

Are you among the 16.9% of Dream Team gaffers currently backing Aaron Ramsdale (£4m)?

If so, you may be risking a clanging error.

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DREAM TEAMDream Team’s second-most selected goalkeeper[/caption]

In theory, the England international is perfectly acceptable selection.

He’s a fraction cheaper than Alisson (£4.5m), Ederson (£4.5m) and Nick Pope (£4.5m), an excellent shot-stopper, and his tally of 182 points (adjusted for new scoring system) was only bettered by four other players in his position last season.

With Arsenal bolstered by the additions of Jurrien Timber (£3.5m), Kai Havertz (£3.5m) and Declan Rice (£3.5m), most neutrals expect them to be strong again this coming season – a sentiment reaffirmed by their Community Shield victory.

However, Ramsdale’s long-term viability will nosedive if David Raya (£3.5m) joins the Gunners.

Whether it’s a permanent switch or an initial loan, the Spanish custodian is expected to swap Brentford for north London before the transfer window slams shut.

PAArsenal bound?[/caption]

Raya was superb between the sticks for the Bees last season.

In fact, no Premier League resident made more saves (154) in 2022/23 than the 27-year-old.

This is a particularly significant factor in the realm of Dream Team as keepers will earn one point for every two saves (as defined by OPTA) throughout the upcoming campaign.

There’s not much between Ramsdale and Raya on paper, an opinion justified by the fact the pair would have been separated by just a single point last season had the new scoring system been applied – the latter would have just edged out the England international to take fourth spot in his position overall.

Essentially, both should be first-choice keepers but if they end up as team-mates then both will be major rotation risks.

It’s not yet known how Arteta sees the situation but it seems unlikely a player of Raya’s quality would be content to play second fiddle to Ramsdale – and vice versa.

Dream Team gaffers simply can’t accommodate a keeper at risk of having his minutes halved.

At the time of writing, Ramsdale is the second-most popular player in his position, which is almost certainly justified for Gameweek 1 – even if Raya is confirmed in the coming hours it’s unlikely he’ll be thrust straight into the team to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday lunchtime.

Whether he’s a set-and-forget option for the months ahead is another matter entirely.

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