Jamie Carragher has heaped praise on Mikel Arteta for his bold move in bringing David Raya to Arsenal, a decision that has seen the Spaniard excel between the sticks.
Eyebrows were raised when Raya, who recently showed his clas to Alisson, arrived on loan from Brentford in the summer of 2023, with many seeing Aaron Ramsdale as the Gunners’ No. 1. Yet, Raya quickly surpassed Ramsdale and has become a towering presence in Arsenal’s defense, earning plaudits as one of the Premier League’s elite goalkeepers.
The initial controversy surrounding Arteta’s choice has largely dissipated as Raya continues to impress. Carragher, reflecting on Arteta’s decision while considering his team of the season, labeled it as one of the ‘best decisions’ the Arsenal boss has made.
“I picked Alisson as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League this season but I was very close to picking David Raya,” Carragher admitted on The Overlap.
“Alisson had that performance against PSG and that was one of the best we’ve seen from a goalkeeper so maybe that stuck in my head. But Raya probably had five or six world-class saves this season. There was one against Aston Villa and Ollie Watkins but it was that long ago that it feels like last season.
“That was one of the best decisions Mikel Arteta made, it was brave because Aaron Ramsdale was a bit of a fans’ favorite but Arsenal were never going to win anything big with him in goal.
(Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
“They haven’t done that with Raya yet either but it was a good decision.”
While Raya has nailed down his spot as the Gooners’ No. 1 with Ramsdale having departed, Arteta’s eyes are peeled for extra competition for the Spanish shot-stopper as we gear up for the 2025-26 season, with Espanyol’s Joan Garcia getting a thorough look-in once more.
Last summer’s transfer window had Arsenal on the prowl for a successor to Ramsdale, pinpointing Joan Garcia. With a fresh window on the horizon, the Gunners are set to reignite their interest as the 24-year-old seems poised to exit Espanyol.
