Jamie Carragher has had enough of a growing Premier League trend that Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya is contributing to. Over the last decade, the role of the goalkeeper has shifted, with modern keepers now often expected to play as an outfield player when on the ball.

While a goalkeeper’s ability to play out from the back is highly valued, it is not without risks. Mistakes can lead to turnovers or defenders being put under pressure, often resulting in the loss of possession.

During Arsenal’s 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace, David Raya played a pass into Thomas Partey that caused trouble, a moment that sparked Carragher’s ire during his analysis on Sky Sports. “This is the worst passing football – playing a straight pass as a goalkeeper,” Carragher said. “The number of goals conceded this way in the Premier League is too high. It has to stop. Goalkeepers should avoid straight passes; they should play out wide.”

At full-time, Mikel Arteta expressed concern about some of Arsenal’s defensive moments, acknowledging that Raya was placed in awkward positions. He explained: “They were more aggressive this time, which we anticipated, but we didn’t interpret correctly when to switch sequences and where to create space. As a result, David ended up playing too close to his goal, and against a team like that, it’s risky. We adjusted later, and when Rice came on, he gave us more control and stability.”

When asked about the balance between scoring freely and conceding opportunities, Arteta said: “I prefer to dominate in the right areas and concede as little as possible. Across four games, we’ve conceded almost nothing, though today we gave away two big chances. It’s always about striking the right balance, but when you win, everything feels fine.”