David Raya beats Aaron Ramsdale in key stats as Brentford star tipped to ‘put pressure’ on Arsenal goalkeeper if signed
Brentford goalkeeper David Raya has caught the attention of several top European clubs, with Arsenal being the latest to express interest. Despite Arsenal fans believing that current number one Aaron Ramsdale’s position is secure, last season’s statistics suggest that Raya could pose a challenge.
Raya, who helped Brentford finish ninth last season, has made it clear that he wants to move on from the club, rejecting lucrative contract offers. Initially, Tottenham Hotspur showed interest in Raya, as their current goalkeeper Hugo Lloris expressed his intention to leave. However, Tottenham opted to sign Guglielmo Vicario instead, citing Raya’s £40m price tag as a hurdle.
Chelsea and Bayern Munich have also shown interest in Raya, with Bayern Munich looking to fill the void left by the injured Manuel Neuer. Now, Arsenal has joined the race for Raya’s signature. It is possible that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta sees Raya as healthy competition for Ramsdale.
TalkSPORT’s Gabby Agbonlahor believes that Raya is a better goalkeeper than Ramsdale. Agbonlahor praised Raya’s shot-stopping abilities and his proficiency in playing from the back. However, he also acknowledged that Ramsdale had a decent season and questioned the need for Arsenal to have two top goalkeepers.
Last season’s statistics indicate that Raya performed admirably. In the Premier League, Raya kept 12 clean sheets in 38 appearances, just two behind Ramsdale’s tally of 14. Raya conceded 46 goals compared to Ramsdale’s 42 and had a passing accuracy of 61% compared to Ramsdale’s 63%. Raya also made 20 clearances, while Ramsdale made 34. Both goalkeepers did not save any penalties, but Raya faced only two spot kicks, while Ramsdale faced five.
Raya outperformed Ramsdale in several areas. He had a higher save percentage of 77% compared to Ramsdale’s 69% and made 51 catches compared to Ramsdale’s 17. Raya’s successful distributions were also significantly higher, highlighting his ability to contribute to Brentford’s build-up play.
While Raya may not have outperformed Ramsdale in every statistic, his impressive performances for a newly promoted side suggest that he could be a strong contender for the Arsenal goalkeeper position if he joins this summer.
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Arsenal fans could be seeing a new face in goal should reports be true that Brentford’s David Raya could be signed up to replace Emi Martinez. The Spaniard could be a shrewd signing with new stats revealing that Raya has outperformed his close rival Aaron Ramsdale when it comes to some key stats.
Raya’s excellent form since moving to Brentford in 2019 has not gone unnoticed, as The Telegraph has pointed out that the Spaniard’s stats are far superior to Ramsdale’s, whose form has been a concern this season.
The 24-year-old Raya has made the most saves in the Championship this season (131) and had a better save percentage than Ramsdale (70.3% to 68%), while he also boasted a superior clean sheet percentage (21.2% to 15.6%)
The stats have impressed the Goalkeeper guru, Dave Beasant, who was part of the England team that won the World Cup in 1990. Beasant believes that Raya could put pressure on any Arsenal goalkeeper, should the Brentford goalkeeper be signed.
It is clear that Raya has a strong case to be put forward as being one of the most outstanding keepers in British football. Whether he ends up moving to the Emirates remains to be seen, but Arsenal fans should be ready to see a fresh face trying to steal Martinez’s place in the near future.