During the recent international break, the Arsenal goalkeeper was a key figure in Spain’s 2-1 away victory over Denmark, as his country advanced to the quarter-finals of the Nations League.
A finger-tip save with his outstretched right arm in stoppage time secured all three points, and this has been something Gunners fans have been accustomed to seeing from their shot stopper.
In Arsenal’s 2-0 away win over Aston Villa, Amadou Onana’s deflected effort came off the crossbar, gifting Ollie Watkins a golden chance as Raya was caught off guard and tumbled into his goal.
But, in stunning fashion, his agility shined through as he leapt up from the floor and reacted instinctively to deny the Villa striker, earning August’s Save of the Month in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, in Arsenal’s stalemate with Atalanta in the first game of their UEFA Champions League campaign, his prowess in reactions and shot-stopping was on display again as he pulled off a miraculous double save from a penalty.
Certainly, he has been no stranger to pulling off some stunning saves for the cameras and saves that have rescued important points for his club this season.
It is not just the last-ditch saves he has been making, but the confidence he now exudes in key aspects of his game, which has catalysed Mikel Arteta’s faith in his compatriot, but this has not always been the case.
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Tough But Important Beginnings
Despite his golden glove-winning season last term, with 16 clean sheets, the contest for the number one spot with Aaron Ramsdale provided some tumultuous moments for the ex-Brentford keeper at the inception of his time at the Emirates.
Concerns were raised over the competence of Raya, especially in the match against reigning champions Man City, when his distribution from the back caused some nervy moments for the home supporters.
The development of a catalogue of mistakes diminished his appeal among fans this time last year, with his poor judgment of a cross-shot by Mykhailo Mudryk in a 2-2 draw against Chelsea, and his large responsibility for two goals conceded in an unexpectedly very close tie at Luton.
Inevitably, goalkeepers fluctuate in form and are susceptible to making errors, some more game-defining than others, but once overcoming the detriments of the competition with Aaron Ramsdale, Raya found a newfound form of resilience.
After a season-long loan, Arsenal’s first-choice keeper signed a permanent deal in July while Ramsdale signed for Southampton in a £25 million transfer.
In an interview following the latter’s move, the now-established first-choice keeper for the Saints said that Raya was the first person to text him when the news broke.
There was not a sense of animosity between the two, but the challenges during that period were difficult to navigate. Once past it though, both have become stalwart keepers once more in the top flight for their teams.
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Defensive Instability
Arsenal have conceded 12 goals in 11 games this season. To put that into context, over the course of the whole of last season in the league, the Gunners conceded 29 goals, the least of all the teams in England’s top four divisions.
Challenges have emerged with the absences of Ben White and Gabriel due to their periods of injury, and William Saliba and Declan Rice’s frustrating suspensions, which have hindered the solid record at the back that the Gunners were characterised so much by.
Raya has been called into action considerably more and has stepped up, making 34 saves in 11 games, in comparison to last season when he made 46 saves in the 32 games he played in the Premier League.
This is a team that emphasises dominating matches with the ball, whether it be with unrelenting build-up play or moments catching their opposition out on the break, but Arteta has placed greater focus on making his side harder to break down and without too much success.
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Raya’s New Found Form Integral to Getting Arsenal Back on Track
Arsenal are looking to bounce back from winning only one in five of their Premier League games prior to the international break, as they host a tough Nottingham Forest side on Saturday.
With Gabriel and Saliba’s partnership back in fruition and Rice and Martin Ødegaard expected to cement a strong spine to the team on the weekend, Arsenal fans will be expecting more control from their players in taking the game to Forest.
But like the game against Brighton, it could be a different story, and we could be seeing the title challengers wanting to hang on to their lead through their defence and ability to frustrate their opponents.
The versatile wingers on both sides willing to put in a defensive shift as well as a strong foundation in front of a confident goalkeeper may have shifted Arteta’s tactical inclinations.
A defensive approach may be something Arteta chooses to employ only in certain games or in certain scenarios.
It seems that having a goalkeeper who is showing consistency gives him more capacity to do that, especially when the main squad in front of him is back fully fit, and this is when this approach may start to work.
