If Andre Onana decides to represent Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations this winter, Manchester United may be faced with the same predicament that has plagued Arsenal this season. Mikel Arteta has created a goalie quandary for himself, and Erik ten Hag may soon face the same one.

Aaron Ramsdale, who joined Arsenal in a £30 million transfer in 2021, was a key component of the Gunners’ ultimately unsuccessful Premier League title attempt last season.

However, Arteta was looking for possible gains for the Gunners this season and opted to bring in David Raya as competition.

After an excellent 2022/23 season at Brentford, the Spaniard moved to the Emirates Stadium on a £3 million season-long loan with an option to make it permanent for £27 million following summer.

Despite the club’s reinvigorated title pursuit, hiring another starting goalkeeper has caused problems for Arsenal this season.

Raya has appeared 16 times, but Ramsdale has only appeared eight times, and it is uncertain who Arteta sees as his long-term No. 1.

Neither has been convincing, and the idea of two comparably capable goalkeepers competing for such a delicate position has been widely blamed.

Andre Onana may quit Manchester United for the African Cup of Nations next month. (Photo by Getty)

Arteta experimented with the idea of goalkeepers competing for starting spots in the same way that outfield players do.

But it hasn’t worked, raising questions about Ramsdale’s future in north London, especially considering Raya’s recent acquisition.

Ten Hag paid £47 million to bring Onana to United in the summer, believing the 27-year-old had retired from Cameroon duty.

But Onana surprised everyone when he quickly reconciled with Rigobert Song and resumed his international career. He will most likely miss a period in the new year to participate in AFCON.

For that reason, Ten Hag was eager to replace both Dean Henderson and David de Gea, bringing Fenerbahce’s starting goalkeeper Altay Bayindir to Old Trafford in a £4 million move.

At Arsenal, David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale are contending. (Photo by Getty)

Despite Onana’s shaky start following Inter Milan, Bayindir has yet to make his United debut. His chance will come, however, provided the Red Devils’ No. 1 vows his allegiance to his country as planned.

That is a tough position for United. Not only are they missing their big-money goalkeeper for a few games, but what if Bayindir defeats Ten Hag?

He’d then be in the same situation as Arteta, and he badly needs to prevent any more of these.

The last thing Onana wants after shaking off his early gaffes is to return to Manchester with the task of regaining his spot or the prospect of Bayindir breathing down his neck.

As a result, it may not come as a surprise if he declines to represent Cameroon at AFCON.