OLLIE Watkins surely believed he was about to score against Arsenal. With David Raya on the ground following Amadou Onana’s deflected shot off the crossbar, the Aston Villa striker was presented with an open goal six yards out during Saturday’s match. Against any other goalkeeper, Watkins surely would have hit the back of the net. Raya, however, isn’t like any other goalkeeper in the Premier League right now.

12 months ago, Raya found himself at the centre of a debate. Many questioned Arsenal’s decision to sign the Spaniard from Brentford when they already had Aaron Ramsdale. A series of shaky performances not long after joining the Gunners intensified the discussion, but the debate has since been settled. Raya isn’t just Arsenal’s undisputed number one goalkeeper, but the Premier League’s best goalkeeper.

This has been apparent in Arsenal’s first two games of the season. In wins over Wolves and Aston Villa, Raya made game-changing saves that gave his team a platform for victory. Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge is up and running in no small part because of the contribution of their Spanish goalkeeper.

“The action of David is unbelievable in the most crucial moment of the match,” said Mikel Arteta after Raya’s incredible save to deny Watkins against Aston Villa. “I thought the ball was in because the moment they hit him, he makes the save and I see our defenders watching the ball. He did it last week. We haven’t conceded much in two games, but those are two big, big chances that we conceded and he made a difference.”

It’s not just the saves made by Raya that make him the best goalkeeper in the Premier League at this moment in time. Indeed, the 28-year-old is a key part of how Arsenal build possession from the back with Raya’s long kicks also known to spring the Gunners into quick transition attacks. He embodies how goalkeepers are now expected to do more on the ball. 

While Raya has nailed down a starting spot in Arteta’s team over the last year or so, some of Arsenal’s rivals have less certainty over their respective goalkeeping situations. Ederson, for instance, was the subject of transfer speculation this summer linking the Manchester City number one with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Alisson Becker also drew attention from the Saudi Pro League, but decided to stay at Liverpool. However, Giorgi Mamardashvili’s impending arrival on Merseyside raises questions over Alisson’s future. It’s possible new Liverpool manager Arne Slot could favour Mamardashvili as the younger goalkeeper. 

Arsenal, on the other hand, can count on Raya being between the posts for several seasons to come. In front of Raya too, they have Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba as the strongest centre back pairing in the Premier League and have just added Riccardo Calafiori as another central defensive option. Arsenal are rock solid at the back.

 

At the other end of the pitch, many believe Arsenal could still do with another attacking difference-maker. Kai Havertz continues to deliver as a number nine, but the Gunners lack a centre forward on Erling Haaland’s level. This is why Victor Osimhen, Ivan Toney and others have been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.

On the left wing, it’s possible Arsenal could also upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli who is still searching for his best form. In Raya, though, the Gunners boast someone at the peak of his powers. If Arsenal are to win the Premier League title this season, there will be more moments like the one the Spanish goalkeeper produced at Villa Park.

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