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

Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya could be going head-to-head for status as Arsenal’s number one next season, and their prospective battle has sparked furious debate among supporters.  

It is only two years since Ramsdale himself usurped Bernd Leno to become our first choice between the sticks, and he rounded off his impressive 2022/23 campaign by signing a new long-term contract in May.

However, if you stand still in football, you will fall behind (especially when chasing Manchester City) and stiff domestic competition means Arsenal must grasp market opportunities if they are to stay ahead of their rivals – with Raya fitting that description perfectly.

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

Both goalkeepers have made big impressions in the Premier League, but who is the better all-round option? Here is a player comparison in four key attributes to help you decide.

Distribution

Ramsdale and Raya are both renowned for their comfort in possession, and it is the main reason why Arsenal have pursued them.

The incumbent elevated ‘Artetaball’ to new heights through his build-up play and fearlessly goads attackers into pressing so he can open up midfield passing lanes.

His ability to punt the ball long distances at goal kicks (average length = 53.8 yards) also allows us to progress into advanced areas from second phases and, despite occasional errors, the team gains far more from Ramsdale’s varied passing than it loses.

Meanwhile, Raya ranks among the world’s best for long-range distribution and generally gets the accuracy and weight of his pass just right, which once prompted Jurgen Klopp to label him a “number 10”. But the Spaniard is, surprisingly, less reliable over shorter distances as he sometimes panics when pressurised and chooses the wrong passing option, thereby putting a huge strain on his defensive teammates.

Mistakes come with the ball-playing territory, and his incredible long-distance passing means Raya just shades it. But it is close.

Verdict: Raya    

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Shot-stopping

In relation to traditional goalkeeper duties, it looks like Raya has the upper hand.

Brentford faced a greater volume of shots than Arsenal last year and that is reflected in the two players’ contrasting save numbers, with Raya making 154 saves compared to Ramsdale’s 95. The Bees’ man also achieved a superior save percentage of 77% (Ramsdale 69%) and would therefore strengthen our backline if he moved to north London.

However, this data may be skewed by Brentford’s good defensive work as their organisation forces teams to shoot from distance, which consequently gives Raya every chance to position himself correctly and make the save.

Save numbers/percentages also do Ramsdale a disservice because he has consistently excelled in the shot-stopping stakes and pulled off several outstanding saves during our title charge, earning the Save of the Month award for both March and April.

But he is prone to the odd mistake, making a joint league-high of six errors leading to shots last term, and so Raya comes out on top again here.

Verdict: Raya

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Dealing with high balls

Unlike the close calls in ‘Distribution’ and ‘Shot-stopping’, Raya storms ahead of Ramsdale in this particular category.

Aerial competence is a major plus with Raya as he acts decisively and uses his stocky frame to outmuscle attackers for high balls, making 52 such claims in 2022/23 with an aerial-duel success rate of 95%. The 27-year-old judges the crowded penalty box scene extremely well and knows when to punch or catch, while he shows incredible bravery to collect the ball under pressure.

On the other hand, Ramsdale leaves much to be desired in the air and sometimes fails to take control when vacating the goal-line, with poor goals conceded against both Aston Villa and Manchester United last season directly linked to his aerial weaknesses.

A meagre 22 high claims and 80% aerial win rate suggest there is plenty of room for improvement, while Raya has set the standard.

Verdict: Raya  

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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.