According to a report by Metro on Monday October 19, 2026, the former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel thinks David Raya is vital to Arsenal's success and thinks Mikel Arteta's team wouldn't be able to compete for the Premier League title without Raya.

Last season, Arsenal had a fantastic campaign, finishing seven points ahead of Manchester City and winning the Premier League for the first time since 2004. The Gunners also made it to the Champions League final despite allowing only 27 goals in all competitions.

With a division-low goal differential and six wins from their first seven matches, Arsenal's defensive prowess has carried over into this season.

After signing with Arteta's squad in 2024, Raya became an integral part of their success, winning three Premier League Golden Glove awards and solidifying his place among the world's top goalkeepers.

Having been impressed by Aaron Ramsdale's performances prior to Raya's arrival, Schmeichel confessed on The Overlap Daily that he was first surprised when Arsenal signed Raya.

Although Ramsdale had been instrumental in the team's success in the past, Schmeichel acknowledged the manager's choice to bolster his goalkeeping department and gave Mikel Arteta the credit he deserved.

But the ex-United star is now certain that Raya has had a huge impact, particularly when Arsenal needed crucial saves in crucial moments.

If it weren't for his contributions, Arsenal's title-winning campaign would have looked very different, Schmeichel recalled telling Raya.

The goalkeeper was informed that they would not have been in contention for the championship if they hadn't been involved in that goal.

He elaborated on how champion teams' strategy of pressing the ball forward to set up scoring chances leaves holes that the other team can easily exploit. Raya's knack for making crucial saves has assisted Arsenal in mitigating those risks.

Additionally, Schmeichel remarked on the goalkeeper's development in handling crosses, saying that his self-assurance has grown, making him more reliable when the pressure is on.

With a late goal from Noni Madueke and a deflection, Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 on Sunday, securing another crucial victory.

Arteta said it was a big deal because Arsenal had lost so many games at the City Ground in the past two years.

While defending their domestic title, the Gunners will face Bayern Munich on the road in a tough Champions League match.