Raya One Of The Best Goalkeepers In The World —Walcott

Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott believes David Raya is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Raya has been very impressive for the Gunners this season, pulling out world class double saves against Aston Villa and Atalanta to help maintain Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the season.

The Spaniard has been named Player of the Match in each of his last three matches for the Gunners, most recently for his display against Manchester City.

The former Brentford player made nine saves, eight of which came in the second half as 10-man Arsenal looked to hold on to their slender lead.

“He’s now got a home,” he said, speaking at a KickX community event on Monday. “As a player, it’s really important when you find your home and have a good environment around you and good positive people around you, it feeds into you and you feel like you can’t do anything wrong.

“Hopefully it continues like this. When you see keepers make a mistake, you’re like, ‘ugh’, because if a striker makes that mistake, people don’t say anything. Keepers are obviously really magnified.

“He’s got great defence around him as well, but he commands that defence and he expects standards. Again, that’s fed through Mikel and the trust he’s been put in him now as well.

“I think it’s really fascinating to see. He’s really matured as well, he seems a lot calmer, and I think when you have a calm keeper, it just settles everyone in the whole team.

“He’s in a good space right now and I think he’s one of the best right now. That’s for sure.”