Mikel Arteta took a big gamble when he bought David Raya as his Arsenal No.1, but the Spaniard continued to bloom after a difficult start with the decision now justified
Jamie Redknapp greeted Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya as “a difference maker” after his role in their 5-0 romp about Leeds on Saturday evening.
The Gunners kept their perfect start to the Premier League season, while they were relaxing beyond the newly promoted side at the Emirates. It means that they continue to keep up with the pace, but they had to thank their number 1 for the fact that a upset was not on the cards.
Raya had to produce a large rescue with the game -oriented because the whites threatened to get a shock early lead. Pascal Struijk came the highest from a corner, but his ball head was well stopped by the Arsenal goalkeeper before they could open the score.
It underlines the value of the ex-Brentford goalkeeper, whose arrival was not received universally two years ago. He moved through London and quickly made former no. 1 Aaron Ramsdale, who had done little to earn to be dropped.
Mikel Arteta supported Raya as his new first choice and remained with him, although he made some prominent mistakes, and Redknapp was full of praise for how he turned into a top shot stopper. He said on Sky Sports: “Raya is such a fantastic keeper. That's such a difference for them.”
The defense of Arsenal has proved to be the backbone of their recent competitiveness. Arteta has combined Gabriel and William Saliba to become perhaps the best center of the world in the world, while Jurrien Timber, Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly have helped forming one of the most solid backlines in Europe.
And Raya is convinced that new faces in the dressing room can promote their title ambitions. He said: “We know that the team has been strengthened and we have drawn high -quality players who will be enormous for the success of this club. I am very happy with everyone and I think it is very easy to integrate into this dressing room.”
The Gunners boss was pronounced during the Raya debut season when he held on to his decision to change his keepers, even and admitted that he wish he had the courage to change no. 1 mid-game.
He said: “I have little regret, but one of them is that I felt twice after 60 minutes and 85 minutes of two games in this period to change the keeper at the time. I didn't do it, I didn't have the courage to do it. But I was able to play a back.