David Raya of Arsenal receives instructions from manager Mikel Arteta during the UEFA Champions League match between Arsenal FC and PSV Eindhoven at Emirates Stadium on September 20, 2023 in London, England.
Mikel Arteta has insisted that David Raya does things people "don't even see" as he again threw his backing behind the goalkeeper.
Raya has endured a mixed first season at Arsenal after a summer move from Brentford that saw him displace No.1 Aaron Ramsdale. But the Spaniard has been consistently backed by boss Arteta and is now showing signs of finding his feet.
The Gunners keeper has conceded just two goals in his last four games, with Arsenal winning all of them. That run started with a 5-0 win over Crystal Palace, with Raya starting the move that led to Leandro Trossard's goal. It is moments like that which have convinced Arteta that Raya is his clear No.1. But the Gunners boss has revealed that there have been other moments that fans and pundits have missed which have also shown his skills.
“What I like about David as well is what he does in goal - the things he prevents us from, you don’t even see because they don’t happen, because he has anticipated them,” Arteta said.
“Obviously he had the environment that was very challenging, but that’s what I love about him. The players with the courage and the character and personality. When even it is like this, they want to be themselves and they push themselves to do that.
"He has earned the right to be respected and I’m really happy that he’s winning. I think it's a great opportunity as well to adapt certain players in certain positions or roles and in spaces and see how they react and they are so willing.
And that sometimes gives you a different solution that you hadn't thought of, because the situation requires and when you have players that are willing to change it and to do it, normally good things happen."
Speaking after the win over Palace, which came following two successive defeats, Raya insisted he had adapted to the pressure of playing for Arsenal. And he urged his team-mates to continue to show the form that has them challenging for the title.
"I think you need time to adapt to a new team, new club, new facilities and new demands. It’s not easy, but I think I am finding my feet and I am finding myself now. It was really important for everybody to win the game," he said.
"Of course I am feeling part of the team. We have shown today we are capable of beating anybody at the highest level. It’s a point on the table to say that we are here and to fight for everything.
"In a season you always get bad periods and every team has bad periods. We went through a tricky period that last few weeks. So we got our feedback and we won the game today. I think we needed a win like this.
"The way we played, the way we we scored the goals, the way we defended - we think the whole match was superb. Obviously there are things that we have to improve, as always, but I think the game overall was really good."
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