Arsenal Who Gary Neville Said Was “Terrible” Last Season is Now Totally Undroppable
Arsenal have not always had the best track record when it comes to the transfer market.
Over the years, the North London club have spent considerable amounts on players who didn’t live up to their price tags. Nicolas Pepe is one such example, while others, like Shkodran Mustafi, were simply not good enough. Arsenal even signed Kim Kallstrom, who was dealing with a back injury at the time, though it was only a loan deal.
In recent years, however, things have changed under the guidance of Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar. Arsenal have become much smarter in their approach to transfers, and the majority of their signings have proven to be successful.
A good example is one of last season’s acquisitions, who, despite facing early criticism, has now emerged as a crucial part of the starting lineup.
David Raya First Season at Arsenal
Spanish goalkeeper David Raya was an unexpected loan signing last summer. The move raised eyebrows because, leading into the transfer window, there was little talk about Arsenal needing to replace Aaron Ramsdale, who was a fan favorite.
Many supporters and media outlets questioned the necessity of bringing Raya into the squad. Both Mikel Arteta and the former Brentford goalkeeper faced a lot of criticism.
Shay Given, a former Manchester City and Newcastle United keeper, even suggested that Arteta might have been “signing a problem.”
Raya’s early days at Arsenal were a bit of a mixed bag. Although he made a brilliant save in his third appearance against Tottenham, he initially appeared unsettled and made some costly mistakes in matches against Chelsea and Newcastle.
Even after improving in the second half of the season, he still faced criticism. Gary Neville, a former player turned pundit, took issue with Raya’s kicking during a 0-0 draw against Manchester City, calling it “terrible,” which seemed a bit harsh given the outcome.
Despite the criticism and occasional errors, Arteta recognised Raya’s value and continued to support him. As this season unfolds, it seems clear that Arteta made the right call in backing Raya.
David Raya This Season
It comes as no surprise that Raya has started all four of Arsenal’s matches this season, and calling his performances outstanding would be an understatement.
| Game | 4 |
| Save Rate % | 93 |
| XG Prevented | 1.14 |
| Clean Sheets | 3 |
| Duels Won % | 100 |
In the opening match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, the player made a fantastic reaction save to keep Arsenal in the lead.
At 29 years old, he further demonstrated his skill in the game against Aston Villa by executing the save of the month, denying Ollie Watkins what seemed like a sure goal.
During the match against Brighton, he made five saves and won 100% of his duels. When facing Spurs on Sunday, he remained focused throughout the 95 minutes, making several impressive stops and dominating in the air, as fans have come to expect.
Data analyst Ben Mattinson has referred to him as an “outstanding” international, and he has solidified his position as one of Arsenal’s key players, becoming almost impossible to leave out of the team.
| Raya’s Arsenal record | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 45 |
| Clean Sheets | 23 |
| Goals Conceded | 32 |
| Goals Conceded per Game | 0.71 |
| Points per Game | 2.20 |
| Stats Source: Transfermarkt | |
In hindsight, the doubts about Raya’s signing last summer seemed reasonable at the time, but over the past year, they have been shown to be unfounded, and once again, Arteta’s judgment has been vindicated.
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