Key stats show exactly why Raya has usurped Ramsdale at Arsenal

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta seems to have decided that David Raya is now his first choice goalkeeper.

Mikel Arteta handed David Raya his Arsenal debut with a start against Everton on Sunday. The Spaniard was once again between the sticks on Wednesday evening when the Gunners got their Champions League campaign underway against PSV Eindhoven.

Much has been made of Arteta’s decision to drop Aaron Ramsdale to the bench. The 25-year-old has been generally excellent since his £30 million arrival at the club in 2021, and has become a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium.

Ramsdale is an excellent goalkeeper. However, there are aspects of Raya’s game that make him a more natural fit for Arteta’s tactical vision for Arsenal.

These qualities were on full display against PSV. Even though the twice-capped Spain international wasn’t overly tested by the Dutch side in terms of shots on goal, he was still able to impress.

The numbers favour Raya

As per UEFA’s own stats on the match, Raya successfully claimed four crosses, and looks far more assured when attempting this action, and does so more regularly, than Ramsdale tends to.

Raya was also excellent on the ball, and according to WhoScored’s stats, the 28-year-old completed 82.5% of his passes, including 12 out his 17 long balls.

For comparison, in Ramsdale’s last outing against Manchester United, the England man completed 81% of his passes, including two of the six long balls he attempted. 

The fact that Raya attempts so many more long passes is in many ways more important than the percentage of how many of them find their target.

Raya’s impact in this Arsenal side extends beyond just numbers, though. He is more dynamic in his distribution, braver in seeking out raking long balls to the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

Arsenal played out from the back more aggressively against PSV with Raya as part of the defensive unit than they have previously with Ramsdale in the side. This is clearly the direction Arteta wants to take his team in.