October 19th 2024.
Alan Shearer, a well-respected legend of the Premier League, recently shared his thoughts on Arsenal's goalkeeper, David Raya. According to Shearer, Raya is among the best in the league, with only two possible rivals who may be better. Raya's move to Arsenal from Brentford in the summer of 2023 was met with surprise, as the Gunners already had England international Aaron Ramsdale as their starting goalkeeper and were challenging for the Premier League title the previous season.
Many believed that Raya would have to settle for a place on the bench, but he quickly proved his worth and became Arteta's number one choice between the sticks. In fact, Raya played a crucial role in Arsenal's impressive defensive record last season, and he continues to impress this season as the team vies for the league title. Some have even gone as far as to call him one of the best goalkeepers in the world, a sentiment that Shearer shares. However, Shearer believes that Raya still has more to prove before he can be considered better than Manchester City's Ederson and Liverpool's Alisson.
Speaking to Betfair, the former England striker said, "David Raya has been outstanding this season, and he even carried that form into the international break with Spain." But when comparing him to Ederson and Alisson, Shearer believes that Raya has not yet surpassed them. "There's no doubt that he's up there as one of the best, but I wouldn't say he's the best in the Premier League just yet," he added.
When Raya first joined Arsenal, there were doubts about whether he was needed, given Ramsdale's presence. However, Arteta's decision to bring him in has paid off, with Raya fitting perfectly into the team's style of play. "He's exactly what Arsenal and Arteta wanted in a goalkeeper – someone who can play with the ball at his feet and start attacking moves," said Shearer. And Raya's shot-stopping abilities have also been crucial in securing points for the team, both in the Premier League and the Champions League.
With only six goals conceded in seven league games this season, Arsenal will look to maintain their strong defensive form when they face Bournemouth on Saturday evening. In addition to Raya's contributions, another key player for the Gunners has been Bukayo Saka. The young Englishman has been in superb form, scoring two goals and providing seven assists in the Premier League. Shearer believes that Saka's absence from the team would be a "massive blow" to their title hopes.
There were concerns about Saka's fitness after he missed England's Nations League match against Finland, but Arteta confirmed that he was expected to be fit for the Bournemouth game. Shearer expressed his relief at this news, saying, "It would be a huge blow for Arsenal's title hopes if Bukayo Saka is out for any length of time, especially with the injury to Martin Odegaard as well." He also emphasized the importance of Saka's energy, ability, and attitude to the team, calling him one of their top players.
In conclusion, Shearer hopes that Saka's injury is not serious and that he can continue to contribute to Arsenal's success. He also praised the team's progress under Arteta and encouraged others to sign up for exclusive news and analysis on the club.
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