Arteta: Raya has elevated Arsenal to a different level

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has “elevated the team to a different level” in recent years.

Raya joined Arsenal from Brentford in 2023, initially on a season-long loan before joining permanently the following year, and has made 153 appearances for the Gunners.

Since the start of the 2023-24 season, Raya has kept more clean sheets (72) than any other goalkeeper in the top five European leagues, while he has saved 72.3% of the shots he has faced.

In that same time, only Caoimhin Kelleher (five) has saved more penalties among Premier League goalkeepers in all competitions (excluding shoot-outs) than Raya, following the Spaniard’s save against Enzo Le Fee last time out.

Raya helped Arsenal win the Premier League last season, claiming his third consecutive Golden Glove in the process, and reach the Champions League, and Arteta praised his goalkeeper’s impact on the squad.

When asked if Raya has been his best signing at Arsenal, Arteta said: “He’s been a tremendous signing, there is no question about that.

“Whether he is the best or not is just an opinion. It doesn’t matter, we are so happy to have him.

A big game before the break. pic.twitter.com/Uj2kJuOAH0

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 17, 2026

“He has elevated the team to a different level and now we have to maintain that level.

“I think it’s his mentality. David has tremendous quality but he has overcome a lot of difficulties and challenges to reach this point. It wasn’t easy at the beginning, he had to dig in and prove himself.

“Now, he has the right to be one of the best.”

Arsenal will look to maintain their perfect start to the season when they face Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Gunners have won four of their last six Premier League games against Brighton (D2), as many as they had in their first 12 against the Seagulls (D3 L5).

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