David Raya: Raya Con Dios

[Sapient Hawk]

It’s small change for the quality we got. World class keepers are few and far between right now, and we signed the best for only £30m
Put that into perspective that guys like Onana were going for £50m+ at the same time!
Right now he’s better than peak Alisson was for Liverpool, and he cost £75m.
If we can win the CL then there’s an argument that Raya is our best ever keeper!

He'a definitely leapfrogged Mad Jens & only behind Ol' Safe Hands in the pantheon of great keepers we've had as a club.

And that's before you factor in legends like Bob Wilson & Pat Jennings.

 

[Mitch]

At fault for the first goal which he really should be saving.

Made a decent save for the Estavo shot.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

It's nitpicking but I'd expect him to do better with the Rogers goal. He was wrong footed there.

Apart from that very good as usual.

 

[Grandolph]

Goal looked too easy, not sure if his vision was blocked. Bossed the rest of the game with some good saves, excellent passing and took care of every cross/high ball into the box. 9/10

 

[Malky]

He'a definitely leapfrogged Mad Jens & only behind Ol' Safe Hands in the pantheon of great keepers we've had as a club.

And that's before you factor in legends like Bob Wilson & Pat Jennings.

When it’s all said and done, and he either leaves or retires, he’ll be our greatest ever keeper.
Obviously all from different eras, and the game has evolved, but so has the role of the goalkeeper that’s became so much more complex.
Raya could do what the keepers of the past ( Lehman, Seaman, Wilson, Jennings ) have done but ( with all due respect ) they couldn’t lace Rayas boots when it comes to playing in his role.

 

[Clrnc]

Love how he lectured Zubi about losing the ball in dangerous areas.

There are standards to be maintained here

 

[SuperGoon]

The standards are so ****ing high now that his lack of awareness for Rogers goal is put against him.

We've come a long way.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

Goal looked too easy, not sure if his vision was blocked. Bossed the rest of the game with some good saves, excellent passing and took care of every cross/high ball into the box. 9/10

His weight was on the wrong foot, took him a fraction of a second too long to adjust.

I think a goalkeeper of his calibre will be pretty disappointed to concede that.

Very good other than that, as you say.

 

[Batman]

People were crying about Relegationsdale and doubting if our soon to be best ever keeper was an upgrade.

 

[Rex Caudillo]

Has to be the best in the world. Nobody else can combine his level of shot stopping with his level of ball skills and distribution.

Garcia does and should’ve started for Spain this summer.

Raya I’d have as second best above Courtois.

 

[Batman]

Garcia does and should’ve started for Spain this summer.

Raya I’d have as second best above Courtois.

Garcia can't be above Raya until he proves he can command his box under the kind of aerial threat you deal with in the PL. La Liga is a cakewalk compared to the PL in terms of the kind of onslaught you can face having to be strong and claim crosses. If they swapped clubs today, Garcia would have to adapt to the PL(I'm not saying he couldn't but it would be a bit of a shock) whereas Raya would coast in La Liga.

 

[Rex Caudillo]

Garcia can't be above Raya until he proves he can command his box under the kind of aerial threat you deal with in the PL. La Liga is a cakewalk compared to the PL in terms of the kind of onslaught you can face having to be strong and claim crosses. If they swapped clubs today, Garcia would have to adapt to the PL(I'm not saying he couldn't but it would be a bit of a shock) whereas Raya would coast in La Liga.

I don’t really go in for the PL proven stuff tbh especially when you’re talking about the joint biggest club in world football.

Garcia is just that guy.

 

[grange]

Raya's getting so bored he's training to become a midfielder during live games. Fair play.

 

[Batman]

I don’t really go in for the PL proven stuff tbh especially when you’re talking about the joint biggest club in world football.

Garcia is just that guy.

It's an element of the job. Raya has proven he can do it at the highest level in the toughest environment to be good at it. Garcia hasn't. It's like if you have a pitcher who looks amazing in the National League and he's not facing the DH vs a guy who looks amazing in the American league facing the DH all the time.

You can't truly credibly elevate the guy from the National League above his American League counterpart when their stats and performances are similar with the caveat that he's facing a lineup that's only 8 deep vs 9. You'd need to see them operating on the same playing field.

That's why a guy like Courtois should be 2nd after Raya because he's done it at the highest level in the environment that really tests your command of your box most. Donnarumma's stock has dropped a little bit IMO because he's showing he's not quite as good in England when tasked with commanding his box.

 

[Rex Caudillo]

It's an element of the job. Raya has proven he can do it at the highest level in the toughest environment to be good at it. Garcia hasn't. It's like if you have a pitcher who looks amazing in the National League and he's not facing the DH vs a guy who looks amazing in the American league facing the DH all the time.

You can't truly credibly elevate the guy from the National League above his American League counterpart when their stats and performances are similar with the caveat that he's facing a lineup that's only 8 deep vs 9. You'd need to see them operating on the same playing field.

That's why a guy like Courtois should be 2nd after Raya because he's done it at the highest level in the environment that really tests your command of your box most. Donnarumma's stock has dropped a little bit IMO because he's showing he's not quite as good in England when tasked with commanding his box.

Yeah but I’m just talking about their ability right now than off the field stuff.

Garcia to me is just a better player.

 

[sdotzdot]

The way I have to justify to non Arsenal fans that this is the best keeper in the world, can you imagine?

Needs some respect on his name, he is genuinely an unbelievable keeper and has been a huge part of the reason why Artetas football works so well.

 

[Sanchez11]

If we win the title and afew more trophies, he could be the best in my lifetime. Even above big Dave for me.

 

[Malky]

It's an element of the job. Raya has proven he can do it at the highest level in the toughest environment to be good at it. Garcia hasn't. It's like if you have a pitcher who looks amazing in the National League and he's not facing the DH vs a guy who looks amazing in the American league facing the DH all the time.

You can't truly credibly elevate the guy from the National League above his American League counterpart when their stats and performances are similar with the caveat that he's facing a lineup that's only 8 deep vs 9. You'd need to see them operating on the same playing field.

That's why a guy like Courtois should be 2nd after Raya because he's done it at the highest level in the environment that really tests your command of your box most. Donnarumma's stock has dropped a little bit IMO because he's showing he's not quite as good in England when tasked with commanding his box.

Spot on!
There’s no way we’d be as comfortable at the back, and defensively robust as we currently are if we swapped Raya for Garcia - despite how excellent Garcia is, as Raya is just elite at dealing with crosses into the box. Like he actually makes it look so very easy, despite his smaller frame he very rarely punches the ball, let alone fumbles it.
Garcia still looks nowhere near as comfortable as Raya under pressure with crosses, and that’s when playing in La Liga.
Raya also has far better distribution than Garcia.

 

[Pepesuave]

Don Raya!

 

[Nicenho]

What a beast. Best in the world imo.