As a team we are a lot harder to create quality chances against this season compared to last season. Of course that is down to a lot of factors, and most of them probably have very little to do with Raya. For me, I see that, and I also see that we are much better in deep possession with Raya in goal, I see that he is better at longer distribution too, and come to the conclusion that we are much better off with Raya in goal. I take that as a marginal upgrade from last season, and I'm happy with that. Raya is no Allison, but he is a very good goalkeeper in my opinion.
We also create fewer chances and are much more boring to watch, but that is a different discussion. 
Raya joins Arsenal
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Rex I take that as a marginal upgrade from last season, and I'm happy with that. Raya is no Allison, but he is a very good goalkeeper in my opinion.
I don't think Raya from this season is an upgrade on Ramsdale from last season. And therein lies the problem that Burns has outlined in that buying Raya has been a net negative on our GK position.
The fact that Raya is no Allison feeds into that frustration - why create an unsettling dynamic for both our GKs when you're not even bringing a world beater?
Thoroughly pointless investment so far from my perspective but good to review come end of season.
I don't think Raya is performing poorly. He had a bad game, has made a few mistakes in others, but I wouldn't call that 'performing poorly'.
I think Raya is a marginal improvement on Ramsdale from last season. Latter part of last season I'd say he is a massive upgrade.
Then again, everything in trying to catch the best team in the world, Man City, is about marginal improvements. Last season we were close to them, this season with several marginal improvements we can hopefully compete all the way to the end.
We shipped three goals against Luton, the most they have scored or will score this season most likely. I'd call it poor if we are collecting "howlers".
I'm a simple soul, I don't ask for much.
I just want a goalkeeper who knows when to get down, when to punch or kick, and when to make the save, who's positioned correctly for free kicks and crosses, appears to have working vision, marshals and encourages the defence in front of him, knows how to judge when to leave his line, isn't afraid to mix it with the enormous players that are the norm in the league these days, doesn't get caught on the ball or pass it to the opposition, and has the stones to carry the ball out of his area to beat the press occasionally without fucking up.
And if we go from one keeper to the next, I want these facets of our play to improve, and never go backwards.
In short, I want a first choice keeper for the long term with nerves, charisma, great talent and proper coaching. Doesn't seem to be on the menu currently, despite us spending enough to erect a council estate on the problem.
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Rex That Raya hasn't been able to keep a sheet when facing more than one shot on target suggests its not actually clear at all that he's a better shotstopper or a clear upgrade on Ramsdale. If you're negating costly mistakes, give them both a bye and see what points of comparison are left. Even on distribution I don't think there is much clarity right now.
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Rex Then again, everything in trying to catch the best team in the world, Man City, is about marginal improvements.
But if there's a significant difference in quality between Raya and a hypothetical Allison, then why not go for a proper upgrade rather than a marginal one?
I think the thought process behind this signing was seriously muddled and as things stand, I don't think buying Raya has paid off.
Seems to me we have taken a drop off in the goal keeping side of things for an improvement in passing from our goal keeper. Arteta probably didn't envisage it happening that way but its whats transpired. Raya is more involved in passing, plays it longer more and has a better pass completion. You are ignoring reality to claim he's been better at shot stopping this season than Ramsdale was last year though. That seems to be a notion thats developed from Rayas stats at Brentford rather than anything we've seen at Arsenal where his shot stopping on his best days has been solid at best and abysmal on his bad days. Under crosses he's made plenty of big mistakes too so there is no increase in command of his box. That said Ramsdale when he's played has had similar issues. It seems very clear to me that both keepers are performing way below their level and I think thats because Arteta has played this situation wrong from the start. Saying one thing and acting in an opposite way rarely works out well and he should have just been straight up about Raya being first choice, it probably would have benefitted both keepers.
My take that Raya is a better shotstopper comes from league stats over the last couple of years. He clearly outperforms Ramsdale in that department in that time frame. His time with us is so short that it doesn't make much sense to use that as a relible metric To me at least.
My take on the goalkeeping situation is that we bought Raya precisely because Arteta wanted a goalkeeper who is better than Ramsdale in possession. Which Raya is. And it helps us. Clear net positive. Because having a goalkeeper with those attributes is essential to how Arteta envisions his football to be played.
The notion that we should have got someone who is more than a marginal improvement on Ramsdale seems wildly unfair to Ramsdale. Because Ramsdale is really, really good! Any upgrade is likely to be just that, marginal. Unless we would sign Allisson. I don't watch enough football these days to really know, but I would think that finding someone who is both a superb shotstopper AND top class with the ball at his feet is super hard. There can't be too many Allison's around. Even Pep at Man City is content with a goalkeeper who is superb on the ball but with no other stand out qualities.
Look at @Rex all backing Arteta's decisions and shit. Turned into a full blown Artetasexual during his hiatus. We sure this man isn't a clone sent in by @Bosscielny?
Welcome back btw man. If it is really you that is.
Rex Raya has the potential to be an upgrade. Right now he hasn't shown that to be the case. I think he's a quality keeper, I feel the same about Ramsdale. I think the situation has them both underperforming and as a result our theoretical upgrade has been more of a weakness compared to last season. Its not the end of the world but its a mistake Arteta needs to correct.
9 days later
Brighton had scored in every single Premier League game until today. #thedavidrayaeffect
I feel so lucky to be alive to watch this guy play.
Decent game today, no real issues other than a flap at one point
His kicking was pretty bad. Though that throw out to Martinelli mostly made up for it.
I was at the game today and I rate Raya but he was very indecisive on the ball.
He's not even top drawer on the ball/with his distribution. At least, he's not consistent with it.
Surely he's number 2 material, and the club needs to go and find our Alisson to be number 1?
Sicario2 - Tier 1 I think he's instructed to wait for the press and I think his kicking is worse as a result.
