According to a report by Football London on Saturday, October 17, 2026, former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has praised Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for signing David Raya, admitting he was initially surprised when the Spanish goalkeeper arrived from Brentford in the summer of 2023.

At the time, Aaron Ramsdale was Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper after helping the club finish second in the Premier League. His energetic performances and aggressive approach had made him popular among supporters, making Raya’s arrival an unexpected decision.

However, Ramsdale gradually lost his place in the starting line-up before joining Southampton a year later. Schmeichel, who initially questioned Arsenal’s decision to recruit another goalkeeper, now believes Arteta deserves credit for identifying Raya as the right player for the club.

Speaking on Overlap Daily, the Danish legend admitted he had admired Ramsdale’s performances, particularly his aggression and willingness to rush off his line.

“He’s done really well, hasn’t he? You know what? I was really surprised,” Schmeichel said.

Despite his initial doubts, Schmeichel has become convinced that Raya’s contribution has been vital to Arsenal’s progress. He even suggested that the Gunners would have been nowhere near winning the Premier League title last season without the Spaniard’s presence in goal.

Raya’s achievements have strengthened that argument, with the goalkeeper winning the Premier League Golden Glove for three consecutive seasons. He is now aiming to secure the award for a fourth successive campaign.

Schmeichel also highlighted Raya’s improvement when dealing with crosses, describing it as an important aspect of his development since arriving in north London.

“One other thing where he has massively improved is coming for crosses,” Schmeichel explained.

The former Manchester United goalkeeper praised Raya’s growing confidence and decision-making, adding that his performances now create the impression that opponents will struggle to score against him.

Raya has maintained his strong form this season, helping Arsenal remain the only team in the Champions League yet to concede after their opening two matches, despite William Saliba’s absence.

His consistent performances have further strengthened his reputation and fuelled discussions about whether he could eventually become one of Arsenal’s greatest-ever goalkeepers.