Darren Bent believes Mikel Arteta should not play Kepa Arrizabalaga for the remainder of Arsenal’s season and insists David Raya should start every game.

After crashing out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat away to Southampton last Saturday, Arsenal are still in with a chance of winning the Premier League and the Champions League this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side currently have a nine-point cushion over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, while the Gunners sealed a 1-0 win in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP on Tuesday night.

Arsenal now turn their attention back to the Premier League this weekend as they host Bournemouth in Saturday’s 12:30pm kick-off.

Former Premier League striker Bent has called on Arteta to stick with his trusted players for the remainder of the campaign, and described Gabriel Jesus as a ‘passenger’ in the defeat to Southampton last wekend.

‘It was just worrying, the performance, because there were so many players who I have lauded this season, like [Cristhian] Mosquera, whenever he has come in to play when [William] Saliba has been injured, at times he’s looked really good, he looked like he was nervous against Southampton,’ Bent told talkSPORT.

‘Gabriel [Magalhaes], I don’t know if it was because Saliba wasn’t next to him, he looked a little bit nervous, not like his normal self.

‘Gabriel Jesus… I mean, I don’t know why we keep trying, I could’ve told you, it’s not worked for like three years and yet we’re still… I know you’ve got to give players minutes but that’s not working.

‘As I said, [Max] Dowman was the only one who I thought, ‘he’s got a little bit about him’.

‘Stop playing Kepa. I know it’s not necessarily his fault, but I don’t want to see Kepa again this season.

‘As a back-up, perfect. David Raya, between now and the end of the season, has to play every single minute.

‘Even if Arsenal destroy Sporting in the Champions League, next week I need David Raya in goal. Play him from now in every game until the end of the season.

‘I understand he’s trying to play bodies but these players are letting him down, they keep being given opportunities and they’re not taking them. Gabriel Jesus was like a passenger.’

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