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.

            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?

            Qwiss I think he's instructed to wait for the press and I think his kicking is worse as a result.

            yup he's told to bait the press

              13 days later

              No chat on here re Raya for nearly two weeks = good sign tbh.

              Also, this:

              a month later

              My guy playing a lot more assured now and less of the ‘nerves’. Distribution better and more sharper. Now we can see why he’s an upgrade on Ramsdale.

              Odd thing to say cause there was nothing assured about his part in Liverpool's equaliser. Saliba should have hacked it away speaking completely with hindsight but better keepers are diving on that ball and making what Saliba did look like top CB play; Instead Raya is bizarrely routed to his line in a position that would make you think the ball was in the control of a a Liverpool player about to shoot. Bizarre.

              He did have some good moments today though.
              .

                Lukazan

                Not having that, sorry. That was Saliba’s mistake all day long.

                Not just about today, against Palace he played well, great saves and some really good balls to Martinelli.

                I think the ‘worst’ is over with him (hopefully). The more he plays with the team the more they will be synergised and the better his performances.

                    Sicario2 - Tier 1 Not having that, sorry. That was Saliba’s mistake all day long.

                    Saliba is the primary culprit but the back five need to play as a collective, so in that situation Raya needs to take some responsibility.

                    At best, it's lack of communication between GK and defender, at worst Raya isn't assertive enough in collecting it from Saliba.

                        At worst, Saliba isn't strong enough when holding off his man in the box. It's similar to how easily he bounced off Awoniyi for Forest the other day. Has to do better. Defender's job is to clear their lines. Willy hasn't done that in that instance. If Raya is a bit more proactive he might have got to it, yes. But ultimately that's Saliba's error.

                        On the plus side, the distribution is different level now. Especially the throw outs for counters. Ramsdale used to have a few opportunities for these outlet throws in every game, but he'll typically run like he's about to throw it and then hold off and squeeze his face and hold his hand up in apology, before making the safe pass / throw= chance gone.