Mikel Arteta has been praised for one risk he took back in 2023 at Arsenal.
The Arsenal manager has done a lot of things right since taking the reins from Unai Emery in 2019.
While so many love to put pressure on Arteta to win silverware, it’s easy to forget what state Arsenal were in when the Spaniard arrived.
In just six years, Arteta has transformed Arsenal from an eighth-place finisher to a genuine contender for the Premier League and Champions League, building his trophy-hungry team brick by brick.
Sam Allardyce says Arsenal were right to sign David Raya
One of the most integral changes Arteta has made at Arsenal is the defence.
The back four, combined with David Raya, make the Gunners so difficult to beat, with the goalkeeper winning back-to-back Golden Glove awards for his efforts.
Jamie Carragher thinks Raya, William Saliba and Gabriel could win Arsenal the league, making it easy to forget that the Spanish shot-stopper wasn’t part of Arteta’s initial plans.
When Arsenal announced themselves as title contenders in the 2022/23 season, Raya was still at Brentford, and Aaron Ramsdale was the Gunners’ number one.
In 2023, Arteta gambled by signing Raya for £30m to replace Ramsdale, a decision that was harsh at the time, but has certainly paid off.
Two years since the 29-year-old’s transfer to the Emirates, the move is still being spoken about, as Tony Mowbray and Sam Allardyce discussed the deal on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.
“I think it was a big call for Arsenal to take David Raya, to be honest,” Mowbray said.
Allardyce responded, “He certainly proved them right compared to Ramsdale, who I thought was a good goalkeeper as well.”
Since Raya arrived, things have gone staggeringly downhill for Ramsdale, who went from being a vital part of a title-challenging side to suffering relegation and losing his place in the England squad.
After conceding 66 goals for Southampton over the 2024/25 season, the Englishman signed for Newcastle, but in the North East, Ramsdale isn’t Eddie Howe’s number one.
Being a second-choice goalkeeper isn’t a safe place to be, particularly with the 2026 World Cup coming up.
Raya is aiming for more than just being Arsenal’s number one
Sadly, Raya’s rise came at Ramsdale’s expense, as the 27-year-old is not one of Thomas Tuchel’s picks between the sticks.
While the former Arsenal goalkeeper hopes to get his career back on track after being axed by Arteta, Raya is hoping for even more than just being Arsenal’s first choice.
When speaking to Allardyce, Mowbray commented on Raya’s personality, stating that he has no doubt that he’s one of the hardest workers at Arsenal.
“David’s got that personality that I’m sure, even now, he’s the last one on the training ground every day,” he said.
“He wants to be the best. He wants to be number one for Spain.”
Heading into the World Cup year, Raya will be eager to usurp Unai Simon, as Spain have a real chance of winning the greatest prize of them all next summer.
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