Steve Round’s departure from Arsenal was partly due to a disagreement over the signing of David Raya, according to a report.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Steve McClaren, Assistant Coach of Manchester United, Steve Round, Coach of Arsenal and Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal interact with Match Referee Paul Tierney at half time during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on September 04, 2022. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Steve McClaren, Assistant Coach of Manchester United, Steve Round, assistant coach of Arsenal and Aaron Ramsdale interact with Match Referee Paul Tierney at half time during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on September 04, 2022. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

James McNicholas reports for The Athletic that Mikel Arteta’s decision to let go of his former assistant Steve Round was partly motivated by a disagreement over the signing of David Raya.

According to the claims, Round argued against the signing of Raya last summer. Not on the basis of ability, but because he felt displacing Aaron Ramsdale could disrupt the culture in Arsenal’s squad, given the England goalkeeper’s popularity.

Arsenal went on to sign Raya anyway, and Round left the club.

Arsenal's Spanish goalkeeper #22 David Raya gestures during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on April 6, 2024. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s David Raya gestures during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on April 6, 2024. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

It’s fair to say both sides will feel there is evidence that they were in the right.

Raya’s arrival did create a lot of speculation around the goalkeeping position, with McNicholas adding that Arteta and his stuff admitted the scrutiny and debate was hampering the goalkeeper’s performances early on.

But Raya went on to win the Premier League Golden Glove as part of a very effective Arsenal defence, keeping more clean sheets than Ramsdale had the previous season and conceding fewer goals. He also helped Arsenal into a Champions League quarter-final.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: David Raya of Arsenal makes the match-winning save from the fourth penalty from Galeno of FC Porto (not pictured) in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Porto at Emirates Stadium on March 12, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: David Raya of Arsenal makes the match-winning save from the fourth penalty from Galeno of FC Porto (not pictured) in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Porto at Emirates Stadium on March 12, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Arteta would probably argue that the long-term gain was worth the short-term disruption. If Raya is a key part of this Arsenal team over the next five or so years, then that argument starts to look pretty convincing.