Arsenal and Spain goalkeeper David Raya has a lot of respect for one former Chelsea player.

Raya is the best shot-stopper in the Premier League right now, so the Gunners will be delighted to have him. At the same time, Chelsea’s current goalkeeper options are not bad either.

The Blues signed Emiliano Martinez in the summer, a World Cup winner, while Mike Penders has done a good job filling in for him following his jaw fracture. Neither are better than former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, though.

David Raya puts Thibaut Courtois on his Mount Rushmore

Chelsea sold Courtois to Real Madrid in 2018 for just £35m. It is a deal that Raya would probably not have sanctioned if he were on the Chelsea board that summer.

In an interview with Goal’s FanZone, Raya was recently asked who would be on his Mount Rushmore of goalkeepers. The Spaniard included Courtois, Manuel Neuer, Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Casillas.

According to his agent, Courtois actually wanted to stay at Chelsea. Had his family been living in England, he never would have pushed for a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

His exit proved to be catastrophic for Chelsea. The Blues signed Kepa Arrizabalaga as his replacement, but he turned out to be a total disaster.

Edouard Mendy had a solid 2020/21 season, but bar that campaign, Chelsea have had issues in the goalkeeper position since Courtois’ departure eight years ago.

Mike Penders can reach close to Thibaut Courtois’ level

Penders is the latest Belgian goalkeeper to represent Chelsea and he has a very high ceiling. It is a bit too early to say whether he can reach Courtois’ level or surpass it.

As Raya mentioned, Courtois is one of the greatest goalkeepers the game has ever seen. However, Penders has enough potential to get close to the 34-year-old or thereabouts. He has already shown that potential at Chelsea since coming into the starting XI.

Penders’ save percentage of 72.7% is quite high, as per FotMob. He is also acting as a sweeper 2.21 per 90 minutes and is outperforming 100% of other goalkeepers in that area!

The future is bright for both Chelsea and Belgium. Senne Lammens is Belgium’s No.1 right now as Courtois sits out of international football for the time being. But Silvio Proto, who has played in goal himself for the Red Devils, thinks Penders should be starting for Belgium.