One Arsenal player won over Michael Owen during the Gunners’ Premier League win over Brighton.
Arsenal’s injuries didn’t fill fans with much joy heading into the fixture, but once again, Mikel Arteta’s side came out on top.
It was a Martin Odegaard strike and a Georginio Rutter own goal that won Arsenal the game, though that was far from the whole story.
Odegaard might’ve had his best game of the season against Brighton, but the captain was joined by Declan Rice and David Raya in the Man of the Match discussions.
Who was your Arsenal Man of the Match after 2-1 win against Brighton?
Michael Owen says David Raya is perfect for Arsenal
If Man of the Match was decided by a single moment, then no one would argue that Raya deserved the prize.
Raya won Arsenal the game against Brighton by protecting the Gunners’ lead with a sublime save in the 76th minute.
Even Fabian Hurzeler applauded Raya’s contribution to Arsenal’s win, as the Spaniard collected a ton of praise post-match.
Change my mind, David Raya is the best Arsenal goalkeeper of the Emirates era.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Michael Owen dubbed Raya ‘incredible’, noting how well-suited the 30-year-old is to Arsenal.
“Incredible, I mean, there are some great goalkeepers in the Premier League, but he just really suits Arsenal,” Owen said.
He added, “He’s great with his feet. A lot of people raised their eyebrows when he first joined.”
Owen was right, as Arteta was questioned for dropping Aaron Ramsdale, as once Edu Gaspar sanctioned Raya’s initial loan, it signalled the end of the road for the Englishman in N5.
It didn’t take long to realise that Arsenal were right to replace Ramsdale with Raya, as the Spain international continues to prove his quality week after week.
Raya’s adaptability has gone under the radar
Raya’s incredible catalogue of world-class saves is rightfully earning the headlines; however, it’s something else that the Spaniard has been doing that deserves airtime.
Arsenal have had to field an array of back fours in the Premier League this season, with Raya being the only constant in that time.
Do you think people are talking about our injuries enough in the title race?
It’s something that Owen touched on when praising Raya.
“He’s got a great defence in front of him, but it has been a little bit mixed up in front of him at times with a couple of injuries,” Owen said.
Describing the situation as a ‘little bit mixed up’ would be an understatement, as Arsenal have fielded nine different back fours this season in the league.
Despite the mass change, the 2023 signing has held his own, orchestrating things from between the sticks to ensure his team remain strong at the back.
It’s been a tremendous season so far for Raya, who has been leading the race for the Golden Glove throughout.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
