Ray Parlour believes a member of Mikel Arteta’s squad at Arsenal, who perhaps hasn’t got the recognition he deserves, has been ‘absolutely brilliant’ this season.
The Gunners have enjoyed a promising start to the new campaign, winning four of the opening five matches across all competitions.
Arteta’s side beat Athletic Club in Bilbao on Tuesday night in the Champions League, in a performance which demonstrated maturity in a hostile atmosphere.
A number of players who have been excellent this term stood out in the Basque Country, including the likes of Martin Zubimendi and Riccardo Calafiori.
Ray Parlour says David Raya has been ‘absolutely brilliant’ for Arsenal this season
Calafiori excelled in August, winning Arsenal’s Player of the Month award after pushing Myles Lewis-Skelly to the side and locking down the left-back spot.
Meanwhile, Zubimendi also impressed in the opening month and scored his first two goals for the Gunners last Saturday against Nottingham Forest.
The aforementioned two have arguably been the standout players for Arteta’s team, but Ray Parlour opted to single out a different star who he thinks deserves plaudits.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Wednesday, Parlour described David Raya as ‘absolutely brilliant’.
“He’s been absolutely brilliant,” the former Arsenal man said.
“As much as I loved Aaron [Ramsdale], he’s been a really good signing, David Raya.
“He’s good with his feet, that’s what Mikel wanted, the back four know him well now. He’s a massive part; if they are to be successful this year, the goalkeeper will be a big part in that.”
David Raya can break Premier League clean sheet record this season
Raya made his 100th appearance for Arsenal against Forest at the weekend, keeping his 42nd clean sheet in between the sticks.
A staggering record, the Spaniard could easily achieve more incredible feats within the next 12 months for the Gunners.
The shot-stopper has won the Premier League Golden Glove award in each of the last two seasons, keeping 16 and 13 clean sheets respectively.
This term, he’ll be aiming to beat Petr Cech’s clean sheet record in the English top flight, set in the 2004/05 season, when the Czech kept the opposition out in 24 matches across the campaign.
Raya already has three clean sheets under his belt, and the Arsenal defence shows no sign that it will start leaking goals anytime soon.
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