It has to stop’ – Jamie Carragher calls for bans to be introduced after awful David Raya moment in Arsenal’s win over Crystal Palace
In Arsenal’s recent 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace, goalkeeper David Raya’s attempted pass to midfielder Thomas Partey was intercepted by Palace’s Ismaila Sarr, nearly leading to a goal for the opposition.
Commentating on the match, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher criticized Raya’s decision to play a straight pass up the middle. He stated, “Goalkeepers should be banned from playing straight balls. They should have to play it out wide, put an angle on it.” Carragher emphasized that such passes are particularly risky and have led to numerous goals conceded in the Premier League, concluding, “It has to stop.”
Despite this near-miss, Arsenal maintained their lead and secured a comprehensive win, with goals from Gabriel Jesus (2), Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Declan Rice. However, the match was marred by an injury to Bukayo Saka, who was forced off in the first half with a hamstring issue. Manager Mikel Arteta expressed concern, stating, “We are pretty worried about Saka’s injury.”
Carragher’s comments highlight a broader debate about the risks associated with goalkeepers playing straight passes from the back. As teams increasingly adopt a play-from-the-back strategy, the role of goalkeepers in initiating attacks has become more prominent. However, as Carragher points out, certain types of passes, particularly straight balls up the middle, can be perilous and may warrant reconsideration to prevent costly mistakes.
