Sicario2 - Tier 1 I don't get it. There's plenty of Ramsdale compilations that look good. In fact this one of Raya makes it seem like he almost never faces pressure?

    7 days later

    Passing ability with feet. Improved.

    Starting position to sweep up behind defence. Much Improved.

    Cross collection. Very much Improved. I don't think I've actually seen him punch one out in the past month.

    Counter initiation/ choice of throw or long kick out accuracy to sustain attacking impetus. Improved.

    Clean sheet percentage is probably going to end up improved as well come end of season.

    Perhaps the only metric where Ramsdale is superior is spectacular shot stopping. But we literally face almost zero shots on goal these days.

    My verdict: Raya's definitely an upgrade. Provides peace of mind for both players and fans (myself) alike.

    He's definitely looking the part in recent games. Claiming catches is so helpful to relieve pressure on the defence.

    Posting compilations of Raya catching easy balls under zero pressure 🙄

    I watched about half that video above and I couldn't see a single time he'd claimed a cross under real pressure. Zero duels or even bumps. We're facing 0.1 or 0.2 xG each match for now.

    Yeah, I'm somewhere in the middle. His catching is great and he's definitely less ponderous when distributing the ball (which was what I expected from the start, but maybe he needed time to get used to his teammates) and that in itself has really contributed to our attack in recent weeks.

    As per Burnsy though, I'm still skeptical about some of the more traditional goalkeeping attributes (eg. save ability). Let's also not forget him letting in a cross from Mudryk because of his weird positioning. I think I'll feel more comfortable when I see him perform in a game where we're really under the kosh.

    So in summary, really positive improvements in the last few weeks as he's settled but I still see a negligible/questionable upgrade versus peak Ramsdale. I can't help but feel if we were going to upgrade GK, this was not the guy to bring in to raise the ceiling.

      Don Pacifico agree, although it's clear that Arteta gives much more weightage to the former and less to the traditional aspects of goalkeeping. Either way, as a unit this is the best our defence has ever looked - both in terms of keeping the ball out and distribution.

        Before Sicario calls it kneejerk and "we'd have been out of the tie long before the goal if Ramsdale played" etc, is it just me or did Raya seem flat footed and jumped a second too early there so he was already on the way down when the ball reached him? It was a good shot of course but wasn't in the top corner. Not making any comment on whether anyone else would have done better etc as bored of that debate, but the shot seemed saveable IMO.

        A keeper at this level needs to save that. Whether it's Raya or Ramsdale or whoever , just really poor to let that in

        Sicario2 - Tier 1 I know I'm never going to convince you otherwise, but that goal last season is not nearly as on Ramsdale as you believe it was. A genuine worldie.

        Put another way, there's no way, if Raya had been in goal for us that night, he'd have saved it either. He'd have been exactly where Ramsdale was, maybe even further out..

          I don’t think it’s a mistake, but there was the potential for a good save there that didn’t happen, which is a bit of a recurring theme for Raya.

            i find it funny to see this constant debate about two average keepers.

            It was savable but it's the sort of save where you talk about it like a goal and Raya doesn't really do that. What annoyed me more tonight, especially in that late spell of Porto pressure was his lack of composure with the ball. He didn't do the stuff he's supposed to be good at. The stuff that makes up for not being able to save those shots.

            First actual test in terms of a save he's had in weeks. Many ways to look at it, but for those of us who are a bit dubious about him, it's all victuals for confirmation bias.