In terms of their track record as a club, Arsenal hasn’t always been the greatest in the transfer market.

The North Londoners have spent plenty of money on players who were never worth their original price tags, such as Nicolas Pepe, or who were just plain bad, such as Shkrodan Mustafi. They have also brought in Kim Kallstrom, a player with a fractured back, even though he was only signed on loan.

But the Gunners have become astute market players in the last few years, led by Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar, and have generally had success with the players they have signed.

Arteta-edu-Premier League Arsenal

For instance, one of their signings from the previous season, who was harshly criticized at first, has developed into one of the team’s most important starters.

David Raya’s initial tenure

Yes, the guy in issue is David Raya, a Spanish goalkeeper who was a surprise loan acquisition last summer. We say surprise because there wasn’t much talk heading into that transfer window about Arsenal needing a new number one to take Aaron Ramsdale’s place in the goal.

Michael, Arteta, Raya, David

Both Arteta and the former Brentford star faced a great deal of criticism and scrutiny at the time since many in the fan base and media felt it was an entirely needless addition to the team.For instance, Shay Given, a former goalkeeper for Newcastle United and Manchester City, stated that it appeared the management was “signing a problem” at the moment.

The Barcelona-born goalkeeper also had a mixed start to life in the team; although he produced an incredible save in just his third game against Spurs, he didn’t look completely at ease in the early going and committed some costly mistakes in the away games against Chelsea and Newcastle United.

In fact, even if the 29-year-old was settling in the second half of the season, former professional and pundit Gary Neville found a way to further criticize the player by calling his kicking in the 0-0 draw away to City “terrible.” Considering the outcome, this seemed like a somewhat petty criticism.

But Arteta saw what Raya brought to the squad and supported him in spite of the outside clamor and the odd misstep. After the season started, it just seemed like another thing he was doing well.

This season, Arsenal Raya, David Raya

Raya has started all four of Arsenal’s games this season, which is not surprising, and it would be an understatement to say that he has been outstanding.

Arsenal’s season statistics, David Raya (1)

For instance, in the team’s inaugural game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, he produced an incredible reaction save to preserve the Gunners’ advantage.

The 29-year-old then went above and beyond to keep this team in the match against Aston Villa by making the save of the month to stop Ollie Watkins from scoring what appeared to be a certain goal.

Against the Seagulls, he won all five of his duels and made five saves. Then, in Sunday’s 95-minute match against Spurs, he stayed aware of the threat the entire time. When called upon, he produced a number of outstanding stops and, as the supporters have been accustomed to, was a beast in the air.

All things considered, the “outstanding” international—as statistics analyst Ben Mattinson has called him—has solidified his position as one of the team’s most crucial players and has grown completely unstoppable.

Raya’s history with Arsenal

Looks

45

Clear Sheets

23

Objectives Given Up

32

Goals Given Up in Each Game

0.71

Points for each match

2.20

Every stat through Transfermarkt

In the end, Raya’s signing last summer raised more questions than it did answers. However, in the year that has passed, those questions have been made to appear absurd, and Arteta has once again been shown to be correct.