Revolutionizing Arsenal's Defense: Why Mikel Arteta Puts his Faith in David Raya over Aaron Ramsdale

David Raya or Aaron Ramsdale? The ongoing debate persists, yet Mikel Arteta seems to have made his decision. Despite discussions on rotation, Raya has been selected for six out of seven games since his debut for Arsenal. Ramsdale, on the other hand, has only made an appearance in the Carabao Cup. It is unlikely that this will change, as Raya is fulfilling Arteta's requirements.

The Spaniard experienced some difficult moments during the victory over Manchester City following his mistake in the European match against Lens. However, with Arsenal remaining undefeated in the Premier League and on par with the current leaders in terms of points, his manager is in a position of strength - and it is evident.

"I take full responsibility. It's completely my fault." Arteta admitted after Raya's errant pass almost resulted in a goal for City on Sunday. "They can criticize me for it because I instructed him to do that." Despite audible unease from supporters, Raya displayed bravery by continuing to play.

"The crowd mimics the players," stated Arteta.

"I witnessed it, the players began to kick balls in all directions, and I advised him, 'you should refrain from doing that, ensure you avoid it', and he complied. In the end, he was rewarded as the team significantly improved the style of play we desired. This deserves a huge compliment to him."

I believe he was exceptional in the way he controlled his area, his ability to anticipate and intercept crosses and set pieces, and the commanding height at which he played. Raya's game as a goalkeeper is truly remarkable, as evidenced by Arteta's mention of his eagerness to claim crosses. Data from the previous season reveals that only Emiliano Martinez has recorded more catches in the Premier League.

Ramsdale's shot-stopping ability has been a prominent aspect of his game at Brentford, just like Raya. Based on the expected-goals data, Raya has prevented six more goals than the average goalkeeper would have during the previous season. On the other hand, Ramsdale has prevented three fewer goals.

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Taking into consideration only this aspect, there is a valid argument for replacing Ramsdale as the goalkeeper, despite his popularity. However, what truly sets Raya apart is his height, which is the most significant factor. Given his exceptional distribution skills, he seamlessly integrates into the possession play of the defensive line.

This key distinguishing point was actually mentioned by Ramsdale himself in an unexpected manner during his poignant first-person article for The Players' Tribune in August. Primarily, this article shed light on his personal struggles and shared insights into his life beyond football.

However, the content also provided an understanding of his connection with Arteta. Initially, this was portrayed in a positive light. However, given the present circumstances, it suggests the existence of ideological disparities between the two and the difficulties encountered in adapting to contradictory expectations.

"I recall him clarifying his desire for me to adopt a more advanced and assertive playing style. Consequently, during our training sessions, I constantly aimed to play at a higher and more aggressive level. Nonetheless, he would persistently instruct me to go even higher. It became a daily routine of 'Yes. Yes. No. Higher.'"

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The heatmaps of the two goalkeepers for Arsenal indicate that David Raya tends to position himself farther away from his goal.

"It was truly fantastic because he allowed me to express my feelings regarding feeling somewhat vulnerable while playing aggressively... Eventually, we managed to reach a compromise where I didn't overanalyze things on the field, and the outcome was evident."

Arsenal's progress was evident, with Ramsdale playing a vital role. However, Arteta's choice to acquire a new goalkeeper clearly reflects his unwavering principles. He leaves no room for compromise.

Arteta's meticulous nature drives him to seek a goalkeeper who perfectly embodies his desired style of play. It is only reasonable to find a goalkeeper who is more suited to execute this style, rather than one who struggles with certain aspects of it.

The statistics indicate that Raya excels as a goalkeeper when it comes to handling the ball. Second Spectrum analyzes tracking data to determine the probability of successfully completing a pass. By recording the effectiveness of real pass completions, the comparative passing skills of players can be evaluated.

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Of the 15 goalkeepers who have completed 500 passes or more since the beginning of the last Premier League season, Raya stands out as one of the three, alongside Brighton's Jason Steele and Liverpool's Alisson Becker, who have exceeded expectations despite the challenges they face. It may not come as a surprise that there are only a few goalkeepers in this category, as they are generally less skilled in passing compared to outfield players. However, within this group of 15 goalkeepers, Ramsdale has the lowest pass completion rate, nearly four percentage points below the average player.

Arsenal will be well-informed about the statistics, understanding that Raya's impressive passing abilities could enhance their build-up play. However, the transition is intriguing as there is no certainty that he will be able to replicate his previous accomplishments.

Although Raya may be familiar with certain aspects of the situation, there are many elements that remain new to him. Joining a different, larger club and competing with a popular rival for his position can be daunting. Additionally, there are already anxious supporters watching his every move on the field. Overcoming these challenges will be crucial for 28-year-old Raya.

Since the start of last season, he is the Premier League goalkeeper with the highest number of progressive passes, totaling 568. However, this statistic is influenced by Brentford's tactical approach, which emphasizes bypassing players to directly involve Ivan Toney in attacking moves.

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Now, he must adapt to a new strategy, making shorter passes and creating pressure. The statistics already demonstrate that 40 percent of his passes as an Arsenal player have been made under pressure, compared to 29 percent last season while he was playing for Brentford.

These subtle differences indicate that there are no certainties. Raya will need to maintain his confidence in his own skills and continue to have the support of his new manager. However, there is a rational basis for his inclusion. He is now the number one goalkeeper for Arsenal. And there is a clear rationale behind him being chosen as Arsenal's top choice.