Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta copped criticism when he signed David Raya to replace Aaron Ramsdale, but Peter Schmeichel admits he's been hugely impressed by the Spaniard

Peter Schmeichel admits he was "really surprised" when Arsenal made David Raya their No 1 but now accepts the move has proved a masterstroke.

The Gunners signed the Spanish goalkeeper in 2023 following their first title charge and he quickly replaced Aaron Ramsdale, who had been the first choice shot-stopper at the Emirates for several seasons.

Schmeichel, a serial Premier League winner, felt that Arsenal were perhaps making a mistake by removing Ramsdale from the starting XI, but he's been proved wrong with Raya having a host of huge moments that culminated in the Gunners winning the title last season.

The Dane told The Overlap: "David Raya has done really well. I was really surprised. I have to give Mikel Arteta some credit, because when Aaron Ramsdale was playing for Arsenal, I thought he did really well.

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"I liked his aggression, flying out and all of that, so I was surprised they brought another goalkeeper in, and that it was him [Raya]. But I interviewed him last season when they won the championship, and I said, 'Just so you know, if you had not been in that goal, you would have been nowhere near the championship.'

"I absolutely mean that, because he came up with all the important saves. In order to win the Premier League, you have to take chances and commit more people going forward."

Raya's save in the narrow win over West Ham last term was seen as title-defining. He denied Mateus Fernandes from close range before Arsenal scored a winner late on and Arteta said: "When you talk about magic moments, this is certainly one of the most needed moments as well to pull off with that save. He was incredible."

Arteta raised plenty of eyebrows when he chose to bring in Raya, having seen Ramsdale be such a major figure in their title charge of 2022/23. The Spaniard was signed and within weeks thrown into the starting XI - a place he would retain.

The Arsenal boss said at the time: “It is something that historically is not done. I cannot have two players in each position and not play them. David has tremendous qualities, like Aaron has, like Karl [Hein] has and we have to use them."

Arteta had claimed that he had even considered substituting his goalkeepers midway through the game, but didn't have the courage to do so.