Was the game against Palace Raya’s best performance so far?
Arsenal walked away 5-0 winners this weekend against Crystal Palace in what was one of the most dominant games we’ve seen from Arsenal all season. Bouncing back from three losses on the trot and putting on a performance like that was something every Arsenal fans has been craving for a while now and finally we have a game with plenty of goals!
One player that really stood out to me was goalkeeper David Raya, who for me, had one of his best games between the sticks since making the loan move from Brentford in the summer. Raya hasn’t had the perfect start to life at Arsenal and has been one of the main talking points all season, with Arteta creating some what of a power struggle between him and Ramsdale. For me, until the game against Palace, he hadn’t really done enough to take Ramsdale’s spot.
But against Palace he looked like a much better keeper, kept calm and composed throughout the game, was quick and good when claiming crosses, his distribution was great, and he looked completely calm and collected throughout the whole match and was hardly challenged throughout the game.
His quick thinking and great distribution lead to our 3rd goal and that’s the type of stuff I’ve been waiting to see from him. He makes a save, is quick to the edge of his box, spots the run of Jesus and makes a pin-point perfect throw to the running striker who then sets up the goal perfectly for Trossard to make it 3-0 and seal the game.
He made one notable mistake but I think it was more a mistake of him getting his foot caught in the grass and the ended up passing the ball out to a Lerma just outside the box. The Palace player took aim and Raya make a terrific save to cover his mistake, and other than that he looked in great form, calm, confident and composed, exactly what you need from a keeper.
We can only hope this form continues and he only gets better and better. I watched a lot of him when he was playing for Brentford, and I haven’t really seen the quality he was showing there at Arsenal, but last night there was glimpse’s of it and you start to realise why Arteta has been so confident in him all season.
Arsenal will face Forest next week and hopefully Raya can keep up the good work, we need him at his very best in this last stretch of the season if we want to win anything.
What’s your thoughts Gooners? Do you think Raya had his best game against Palace.
Daisy Mae
I think it’s quite unfair that several saves by Ramsdale that contributed to our 2nd place finish by the END of the season are being forgotten and rubbished, while ONE good performance by Raya – after weeks of ABYSMAL goalkeeping that contributed to our drop from 1st to 4th in FOUR DAYS seems to be enough to “justify” his continued starting selection.
I wish I could understand the bias.
I do not understand the bias.
Victor Pius
It’s not bias
If you do some research about last season, you will find out that Raya had more saves in the EPL than any other goalie.
Raya is better than Ramsdale in everything. Simple.
People can keep on complaining, but Mikel knows well.
Remember when Arteta came, his first goalkeeping target was Raya
Maybe Brendford’s Raya does, but Arsenal’s Raya doesn’t seem superior to Ramsdale…. almost 30M on a goalkeeper who isn’t sharp enough to make that difference worth it…. I hope Ramsdale has opportunities and gets his place back.
John weyne
You are somehow right. But last season was Raya’s 4th at Brentford. So, how long has Raya stayed at Arsenal? Only half a season. Give him time to settle. Tell me one thing Ramsdale has done better than Raya. Thanks.
Better shot stopper .
Commands his penalty area better and for me gives our defenders more confidence.
Raya excels with his distribution but I haven’t seen his ball playing skills that he’s famed for and looks just as uneasy as Ramsdale when playing out from the back ,both keepers miles behind Allison and Ederson ,Ederson being the best keeper on the planet playing out from the back IMO .
Between the 2 I would pick Ramsdale just because of Rayas height ,not much between the pair though .
Exactly, people forget Ramsdales performances at anfield and Tottenham away season. I can guarantee you Raya doesn’t give us those performances, we should’ve hired a world class goalkeeping coach instead
Ramsdale has made some spectacular saves which is one of the reasons he is a fan favourite. However, more detailed analyses suggest that Raya is probably the better all round goalkeeper.
DAVID, easy to write a non specific phrase like “more detailed analysis” as if it sounds the decisive factor.
But as you fail to specify WHAT so called “analysis” you refer to – as none exists- then that phrase you use with intention to prove the decisive factor, is MEANINGLESS, AND MOREOVER DOES NOT EXIST!
Yes would love to see a detailed analysis from David showing that Raya is the better keeper ….
Let’s say Ramsdales first 20 games from last season against rayas 20 this season .
He obviously as those stats available on hand as his post suggests.
I wait with anticipation
Let’s be honest here, most people upping Raya by saying Arteta knows, he doesn’t. He’s done a lot of things well, but he has made a complete shambles of the goalkeeper situation at Arsenal.
Martinez is arguably the best goal keeper in the world right now.
Ramsdale was in the Premier league team of the season last year, one of 4 that we had in that team.
Leno and Raya can be compared based on the amount of saves made, they both had average teams in front of them and faced way more shots than Ramsdale. But Ramsdale rarely blundered and kept us top of the league for so long, he thrived while we had Gabby and Saliba playing but suffered like the rest when Saliba got injured.
Raya has not been able to handle the pressure of being at a big club and choked many times already. This article based on one game, a home walkover is a joke and massively unfair on Ramsdale.
As a human and a fan, I urge Ramsdale to go to another club and be appreciated for the top keeper he is.
David Raya vs Ramsdale 22/23
Raya has
Better save percentage
Better xG against
Better figures for crosses stopped
Better long ball kicking
In all these stats Raya was amongst the best in the PL with some figures comparable to the likes of Alisson and Martinez.
Based on these and similar stats since he has been playing PL football Raya has been one of the best in the PL over the past few years. This is not to suggest that he does not have weaknesses. However, the persistent view amongst certain Arsenal fans that Ramsdale is better is not consistent with certain facts.
What has 22/23 got anything to do with 23/24? What has his Brentford performance got anything to do with his Arsenal performance?
Did his job ,did notice 2 awful kicks that put us under pressure and instead of catching the ball decide to tip over or around the goal .
Nothing special IMO and his throw out was a result of palace all up the pitch except for2- 3 players .
I do not think Arteta will change his mind even if he has a bad patch .
Not yet. His last performance was good, but Crystal Palace didn’t make any clear-cut chance or spectacular effort
If he can keep a clean sheet when Liverpool visit us, he will deserve to be our main GK
Got to agree with JohnW.
Raya’s performances with half the season completed certainly doesn’t justify the 30M. Also need to factor in that Raya has enjoyed the defensive protection of both Rice and Saliba whereas last season Ramsdale didn’t have that advantage with Saliba injury towards the end of the season costing us dearly.
For me, Ramsdale is good enough to keep his shirt. 30m on Raya is not worth it when you have Ramsdale. Ramsdale will leave and Arsenal will regret the decision. This unbelievable saves we’ve seen Ramsdale make are no where to be seen with Raya.
So because of the Palace game he’s now done enough to take Ramsdale’s spot? Not even close imo Daisy Mae, but he is MA’s #1 and we have to hope for the best from Raya when he is between the sticks.
I remain convinced RAMSDALE IS THR BETTER KEEPER. Ramsdale has an aura about him , he is plainly confident but not cocky. He is a proven far better shot stopper in OUR SHIRT- Brentford are an entirely different club with far inferior players, so Raya’s previous form there is irrelevanrt IMO.
Ramsdale is alo a full two and a half inches taller and more obviously muscular, which is a strong advantage when keepers are under pressure at corners etc.
To my mind, it was a pointless waste of money and not needed and still is not.
Were it up to me I would immediately reinstate Ramsdale as Number one and sent RAYA back to Brentford thIs summer.
But MA wont, which is all that counts!
SIGH!
Aeek or so ago , I posted to ask Ad PAT TO HOLD A FAN POLL ABOUT WHICH KEEPER WE FANS WOULD KEEP AS NUMBER ONE
Ad Pat ignored that request a she seesmj to prefer RAYA. i AM NOT AT ALLSURPRISED AT BEING IGNORED.
But this thread seems to have done the poll for me and so far, ONLY FREDDY has said he thinks RAYA DESERVES TO STAY IN.
AND EVEN FREDDY STOPPED SHORT OF SAYING HE THOUGHT RAYA THE BETTER KEEPER, I NOTICE.
All other posts without exception said they preferred Ramsdale, so Ad PAT , no need to worry about that ignored poll request now.
We can ALL see plainly WHICH keeper our fans en masse prefer- it is RAMSDALE!
Doesn’t really count if you save your own mistake re the mis-kick out vs CP. The rest were okay saves but Ramsdale would have made them too?
Yes – good throw out for the goal but remember Ramsdale setting Nelson free the week before.
Raya can’t excite or lift the fans like Ramsdale does and as above, Raya’s ‘clean sheets’ usually hardly involve a save. One good stop vs Tot’Grotspurs earlier in the season does not convince me.
When we are desperate for the money if the choice is between playing Ramsdale and keeping ESR or EK; or buying a forward instead of keeping Raya it’s a no-brainer for me. Raya is definitely no visible upgrade on Ramsdale (i’d argue he’s worse) so it’s a total waste of money buying him from Brentford.
Sadly Raya is Spanish and we have his old goalkeeping coach advising MA so I don’t expect common sense to prevail.
I think there is not an awful lot between them – other than there were times that Ramsdale – on his own admission – didn’t fully concentrate.
The only other point I would make is that Arteta has settled on Raya, who although shorter than Ramsdale is a six footer. By now, the players will have got used to Raya in goal which must benefit the team as a whole. It was tricky at the beginning for all concerned, but now I don’t see Raya being ousted. Bad luck for Aaron.
I have mentioned some stats where Raya’s figures were better than Ramsdale’s in a thread above. These can be verified from various sources including the PL’s own site.
The stats alone are not proof but they provide some relevant information that managers will and should use to evaluate a player.
That’s a fair comment and I’ve read your previous comments to others
Without doubt there is affection for Ramsdale and that makes it difficult for many to change their minds.
As with Havertz, I’ve tried to keep an open mind. Raya is growing into his position but had some’hairy’ moments- I remember the City game particularly. In many respects he had the popular boots of Ramsdale to fill.
I’m not in any way wishing Ramsdale back but I hadn’t seen him as a liability
Just one in the long line of Arteta’s useless and unneeded signings.
He benched a better keeper for no benefit to the club. Just an increase in wages bill and a transfer fee we won’t recoup even half of.
By showing the world that he doesn’t want Ramsdale (old habits die hard), the specialist in devaluing players has stayed true to form.
Any club coming for him will be on the driving seat.
Dam 😂
Don’t hold back mate …
But fair play you have a point ,Under Artetas rein our selling as been atrocious
Yes mate. There is actual detailed analysis about this issue.
Didn’t he again pass the ball to opposition?
It doesn’t matter now, as a fan stated the King is dead
Not sure there’s a lot between them but I do think Raya is better on high balls and commanding his area and possibly his long range distribution. Ramsdale in my opinion is a better shot stopper and of course does get the crowd going and more of a dominant voice at the back, but both scare the life out of me in how far they come out of their area.
The assertion that Ramsdale is a better shot stopper is probably based on the fact that he has pulled off some quite remarkable saves that we have not seen Raya do.
However, statistically, Raya is one of the best shot stoppers in the PL. In the year to the end of 2023 he was second to Alisson.