David Raya or Aaron Ramsdale: Who is the better goalkeeper?

One-on-one situations

To excel one-on-one is important in a high-line team, and Ramsdale is one of the best around.

From Eberechi Eze on the opening night to Ben Chilwell in May, our number one has repeatedly shown his worth in these isolated situations and earned Arsenal many valuable points as a result.

His willingness to hold position until the last second shifts all the pressure onto the attacker and puts huge doubt in their mind for the finish, while quick feet and athleticism enable Ramsdale to fearlessly throw himself in harm’s way and prevent a goal.

Strangely, despite his sweeper-keeper status, Raya is impulsive and less reliable when setting himself for one-on-ones – often charging out early before being rounded by the opponent or even committing a foul.

He is also quite small in goalkeeping terms (1.83m) and therefore finds it harder to close down all shooting angles, giving forwards some dangerous leeway to consider their finishing options.

It is an area Raya can improve in, and there are signs that he has already done so, but his short frame indicates this scenario will always present some difficulties. Arsenal cannot afford to wait on him.

Verdict: Ramsdale

Conclusion: David Raya

Ramsdale and Raya share similar profiles and, in terms of distribution and shot-stopping, there is not all that much to separate them. However, the Brentford man edges both categories and offers much more in the air, so he would represent a small upgrade in the goalkeeping department – although Ramsdale won’t give up without a fight.