Arsenal: 6 Goalkeepers to Target in January

David Raya – Brentford

The key man. The player Arsenal have been trying to lure across London for the best part of a year. In the summer their efforts were futile as Brentford turned down a £10m bid, with the idea always to try and secure David Raya‘s signature regardless of the arrival of Runarsson.

On the ball there are central defenders in the Championship who aren’t as composed as the Spaniard, whose delivery with his feet is the best of any goalkeeper in the division.

Apart from his overall goalkeeping ability, Raya is a commanding voice in the Brentford back line. Constantly barking orders at those in front of him, he not only springboards attacks with his decision-making on the ball but he also guides his team up the pitch from his vantage point.

A large part of the interest Arteta and co have in Raya is that he classes as homegrown. The importance of that increases ever further as new rules come in post-Brexit, while his experience of the division and fluency in the language also help his case.

Arsenal’s chances of signing him this window are incredibly thin, though. Brentford are pushing for promotion once more and are in no need to sell, with a summer revisit more likely.