Arsenal are set to compete in their biggest game of the season on Wednesday as they head to Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League semi-final second leg.
The Gunners are currently at a disadvantage, having lost 1-0 to an inspired PSG side in their first-leg encounter at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have shown they can compete with the very best, having made light work of Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Now, Adrian Clarke has spoken about a £27million Gunners player who needs to have the “game of his life” if the Gunners are to stand any chance of overcoming PSG.
READ MORE: Theo Walcott says £27m Arsenal player is ‘probably the best’ in his position in the world right now
Adrian Clarke hopes David Raya has ‘the game of his life’ for Arsenal at PSG
Clarke noted how PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma played an “absolute blinder” when the Ligue 1 side faced Liverpool in their last-16 tie.
With that in mind, the former Arsenal midfielder said David Raya could be just as important for the Gunners if he has “the game of his life” in the second leg.
“PSG put Liverpool under extraordinary pressure and the goalkeeper had an absolute blinder,” Clarke told the BBC Football News Show.
“That’s why I think David Raya is a big player for Arsenal.
“If he has the game of his life and some of the forwards take their chances, anything can happen.”
Why Ian Wright was recently worried about David Raya
It hasn’t always been easy for Raya, who needed some time to find his feet at Arsenal after he replaced Aaron Ramsdale in between the sticks.
However, Raya has established himself as the undisputed No. 1 for Arsenal and he has delivered some impressive performances this season.
For instance, the £27million man pulled off some wonderful stops against the likes of Aston Villa and Atalanta, which saw him earn plaudits.
Back in September, Gabriel Agbonlahor said Raya is “probably the best goalkeeper in the world at the moment”.
However, Raya has come under criticism of late with some shakier displays, including against Brentford last time out.
“I thought David Raya as well. David Raya was a bit shaky,” Ian Wright said on Wrighty’s House after Raya’s shaky display against Crystal Palace.
“I think, like I mentioned just now, I think David Raya had a little bit of a nervy vibe about him.
“I wasn’t as, the way I said, Dave, what’s happening? Just chill, man? What’s going on? It just made me feel a little bit jittery in how he’s playing a little bit.
“And then the tentative pass for me from Saliba in that particular area, it just felt like a little bit too, hang on a minute.”
Raya will hopefully be at his best against PSG and deliver the kind of masterclass that will be talked about for years.
