Micah Richards believes Arsenal star David Raya is ‘on his way’ to becoming the best goalkeeper in the world but currently sits below two rivals.
Raya has been a revelation at the Emirates Stadium since his £30m move from Brentford in 2023.
Some pundits questioned Arsenal’s move for Raya given England international Aaron Ramsdale was already a key part of Mikel Arteta’s squad.
But Raya quickly displaced Ramsdale as Arsenal’s No. 1 and has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Raya, 30, has conceded just five goals this season – two of which came in Saturday’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Sunderland.
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Ex-England defender Richards is a huge admirer of Raya but says two other goalkeepers – Alisson Becker and Thibaut Courtois – sit above the Arsenal player.
The currently injured Alisson has won two Premier League titles and the Champions League since joining Liverpool in 2018.
Courtois, meanwhile, has lifted two Champions League trophies and three La Liga titles at Real Madrid in his near-decade long spell at the Bernabeu.
‘Who’s the best goalkeeper in the world at the moment? I quite like these conversations,’ England legend Gary Lineker asked on The Rest is Football podcast.
‘You’ve got Thibaut Courtois at Real Madrid and Raya at Arsenal who has barely conceded a goal this season.
‘Alisson is injured at the moment but has been at the top for years, you’ve got Donnarumma as well. There’s some great goalkeepers around right now isn’t there?
‘Oblak is worth a mention as well, he’s been great for Atletico. The art of goalkeeping has definitely got better, they’re bigger generally for a start.’
Responding to Lineker’s question, Richards said: ‘Thibaut Courtois has been the best goalkeeper in the world for a while.
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‘I would say in the Premier League it’s Alisson. Raya is on his way to being the best, certainly, but you need to look at what is in front of Raya.
‘Look at what Alisson has done at Liverpool. His one-v-one shot-stopping is ridiculous. The goalkeepers now are definitely more athletic than they were back in the day.’
Arsenal kept a club-record equalling eighth successive clean sheet before they were denied a record-breaking ninth by Sunderland.
Dan Ballard’s first-half goal finally broke Arsenal’s resistance but the Gunners still looked on course for an 11th straight win thanks to second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard.
Arteta’s side were minutes away from going eight points clear at the top of the Premier League when Brian Brobbey scored a dramatic equaliser deep into injury-time.
Arsenal return to Premier League action after the international break with an intriguing north London derby against Tottenham.
The Gunners have not won a league title since 2004, finishing as runners-up for the past three seasons.
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