'Arsenal boasts the most versatile star in the world'

Legendary Gary Lineker believes Arsenal currently has one of the best players on the planet, as David Raya delivers outstanding performances and becomes the new pride of the Emirates Stadium.

On The Rest is Football Podcast, Gary Lineker drew attention by giving special praise to Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya. He stated that the current form of the Spanish star is enough to rank him among the world’s elite goalkeepers. “I might go a bit far, but Raya at Arsenal is playing at the highest level. He has barely conceded any goals this season,” Lineker commented.

Since joining Arsenal in 2023, David Raya has experienced a remarkable peak period. The 29-year-old goalkeeper has kept 11 clean sheets in 14 matches across all competitions, conceding only 3 goals. Beyond his quick reflexes, Raya is highly regarded for his proactive style and command of the penalty area, which makes him a crucial part of coach Mikel Arteta’s pressing system.

Arsenal currently leads the Premier League by 6 points over the second-placed team after 10 rounds. The defense’s consistency — to which Raya significantly contributes — is the foundation behind the “Gunners” maintaining an impressive streak of 10 consecutive wins across all competitions. For Gary Lineker, this success is not just a team effort but also the result of Raya’s individual excellence.

“He reminds me of the most complete goalkeepers I have ever seen, combining great reflexes, excellent distribution, and superb ball-playing skills,” he remarked.

Within Arsenal’s management, they also believe they made the right signing at the right time. The 2023 transfer was initially questioned since Raya was brought in while Aaron Ramsdale was performing steadily, but now all doubts have vanished. The club views him as “one of the best goalkeepers in the world” and a perfect fit for Arteta’s strategy.

Lineker also places Raya alongside other football greats like Thibaut Courtois, Alisson Becker, and Gianluigi Donnarumma.

“Courtois remains the icon of Real Madrid, Alisson consistently performs when fit, and Raya — he is at his peak. Arsenal has every reason to be proud to have a goalkeeper of that caliber,” he affirmed.

In fact, Raya’s individual stats currently surpass the rest of Europe. He boasts a save rate exceeding 90% this season, along with a calm demeanor and remarkable anticipation skills. Many experts believe if he maintains this form, Raya could soon be honored among the “Goalkeepers of the Year” both in the Premier League and in European competitions.

From being called a “remarkable talent” to a “world-class goalkeeper,” David Raya’s journey is the clearest proof of Arteta’s philosophy — that a great team needs not only skilled attackers but also a goalkeeper who inspires from the back.

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