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Mikel Arteta insists it is not a gamble to have two top goalkeepers at his disposal after Arsenal completed the loan signing of David Raya last week.

The 27-year-old Spain international has joined from Brentford on a season-long deal that can be made permanent next year for £27million, and will now compete with current No 1, Aaron Ramsdale.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank said on Friday he expects Raya to join Arsenal next summer, saying a loan move made no sense for a goalkeeper of his quality.

Former Premier League Peter Schmeichel and Shay Given have questioned the decision to pit Raya against Ramsdale, but Arteta said ahead of Monday's game against Crystal Palace: "It's not a gamble, it's a necessity.

"There is not another way. The difference between tier one and what you call 'tier-two players' is too big. How do you resolve that? We can bring excellent players from the academy but unfortunately today we don't have somebody so ready to make that step.

"We have to create that environment. It's not a competition, it's to raise the level and the demands that we are going to be facing.

"We are going to keep building a better squad. That is what the game is going to require, what the Premier League and Champions League are going to require. It's very simple."