The Gunners' transfer activity has been questioned this season, but most of their new arrivals have been outstanding in recent weeks
If David Raya hadn't come up with two stunning saves in Arsenal's penalty shootout victory over Porto on Tuesday night, there's a decent chance that the red half of north London would've spontaneously combusted in a fit of frustrated rage.
Across the two legs of this Champions League last-16 tie, the Portuguese side hit the Gunners with every flavour of sh*thousery imaginable, leaving fans, staff and players rattled beyond belief. Ultimately, though, despite their cynical efforts, Arsenal would be the ones who booked their place in the quarter-finals, with Raya having a huge hand – quite literally – in their historic victory.
Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta was full of praise for his No.1, revealing that he was not surprised that the Spaniard refused to wilt under the pressure: "I was convinced that was going to be the case. You see him those first few days here, what he had to go through and how he did it with that composure. You look at his body language and the decisions that he takes, he doesn’t get very affected. That’s a key quality for that position."
GettyRamsdale snub attracted criticism
That Raya would turn out to be the match-winner was further vindication of Arteta's brutal and brave decision to move on from Aaron Ramsdale as his first-choice goalkeeper in the summer.
That move was not widely popular at the time, both within sections of the fanbase and in the media. Raya wasn't immediately inserted into the starting XI, not making his Premier League debut until September, but once he made that maiden bow, it soon became clear that he was now Arteta's go-to option between the sticks, despite the coach outlining a utopian vision where the pair would rotate – perhaps even during a game.
Arteta was criticised by a host of media figures for his ruthlessness, including David Seaman and Peter Schmeichel, with Ramsdale's father even infamously chipping in with some harsh words.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesArteta's ruthlessness rewarded
However, after some shakiness early on, Raya has more than proved that he is an upgrade on the man he replaced in goal. Most obviously, the Spaniard has facilitated a marked improvement in how Arsenal have dealt with balls into the box this season. No Premier League goalkeeper has claimed a higher percentage of crosses (14.9%) they have faced this term, with Ramsdale racking up a figure of just 5.8% in 2022-23.
Raya is far more comfortable in the build-up phase too. His pass completion numbers are superior to Ramsdale's last season, while his quick throws and goal-kicks regularly create good opportunities for his team-mates.
Despite this, if there was any question mark remaining over Raya's superiority over Ramsdale, it would be shot-stopping. Neither goalkeeper is among the absolute best in the world in this area, but on Tuesday, the ex-Brentford man proved he can be relied upon to come up with game-settling stops.
(C)Getty ImagesWritten into Arsenal folklore
Even before the penalty shootout began, Raya was called into action, saving well from Evanilson in the first half and Francisco Conceicao in the second. When his big moment came, he relished it, diving down to his left to keep out Wendell and Galeno's efforts from 12 yards, while also getting something Marko Grujic's spot-kick.
Raya was understandably delighted at full-time, saying: "This means everything. You play football for these kind of things and I'm lucky to be playing for Arsenal, to be in the Champions League and to get through to the quarter-finals. We're just going to enjoy the night."
Securing their passage into the last eight for the first time in 14 years is a massive moment for the club, and finally winning a European knockout game at the Emirates (after five previous, unsuccessful attempts) ensured Arteta got a sizeable monkey off his back. That it was one of his most-maligned signings who got them there will only make the victory sweeter.
(C)GettyImagesJorginho still has that magic
Raya is not the only of Arteta's recruits who have been proving their doubters wrong recently, too. When Jorginho arrived at the club in January 2023, there were concerns. Arsenal had had their fingers burnt recruiting aging Chelsea players in the past and supporters were frustrated that the Gunners hadn't managed to secure their top midfield target: Moises Caicedo.
The Italian's slow start to life at the Emirates did little to quell this disappointment, either. He was even linked with Fenerbahce last summer and made a poor error in the Gunners' underwhelming north London derby draw in September.
After that, Jorginho looked set to be consigned to the status of bit-part player under Arteta. However, more recently, the midfielder has stepped up with a string of player-of-the-match performances. He was vital in unpicking Sevilla's stubborn defence at the Emirates in November, and was absolutely brilliant when the Gunners romped to a 3-1 victory over Liverpool in February.