David Raya was the hero for Arsenal last night as he stepped up with a great performance to help the Gunners beat Porto on penalties to progress into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Raya joined Arsenal from Brentford on loan in the summer in a somewhat surprise move given that Aaron Ramsdale had performed pretty well as Mikel Arteta’s number one last season.
Speaking exclusively to CaughtOffside for his Daily Briefing column, Arsenal FC writer Charles Watts has provided more background on this deal, which he claims Arteta actually wanted earlier, before he signed Ramsdale.
Bernd Leno was the Arsenal no.1 when Arteta took over as manager, and Watts says Raya was his preferred choice to replace the German shot-stopper, though the deal couldn’t be done at that time.
Raya transfer ‘unexpected’ but clearly justified for Arsenal
Explaining how Arteta pounced when the chance to sign Raya presented itself again, Watts said: “Arteta will be delighted that David Raya was the hero on Tuesday night.
“Raya’s arrival created a lot of headlines last summer, but he is now showing why Arteta took the opportunity to bring him in from Brentford.
“Raya was the keeper Arteta always wanted. He wanted him to replace Bernd Leno, but a deal couldn’t be done at the time with Brentford so Aaron Ramsdale arrived instead.
“Ramsdale did a great job and Arsenal were happy with him, but when Matt Turner pushed to leave Arsenal last summer late on in the window and Nottingham Forest offered a deal that would see Arsenal make a profit on the American keeper, the Gunners had to act quickly.
“This time Raya was available and a loan deal, one that will be turned permanent this summer, was done. It was unexpected, but the opportunity arose and Arteta went for it.
“It was a big call, but one he felt would improve the team. Looking at it now a few months down the line, you can’t argue that he hasn’t been proven correct.”
Raya looks like an increasingly smart signing by Arsenal, and fans will no doubt be delighted that Arteta stuck to his gut instinct on this one, even when many would surely have stood by Ramsdale for longer and prioritised other areas to strengthen.