Jamie Carragher names £27m Arsenal transfer their ‘best piece of business’

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made headlines with another impressive showing for the London outfit against Olympiacos on Wednesday night with Jamie Carragher hailing the shot-stopper as one of the club’s best pieces of transfer business in recent years.

The Gunners picked up a win over the Greek side with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka on the scoresheet at the Emirates Stadium. The scoreline makes it look easy work for Mikel Arteta’s side but Olympiacos did pose a threat.

Raya was called into action in the first half when a Daniel Podence volley needed tipping over the crossbar. Reacting on TNT Sports, Ally McCoist said: “It was a brilliant move, a fantastic move from start to finish, ball come across and it is an absolutely wonderful save. How he gets that left arm up and pushes it over the bar is something else.”

Jamie Carragher hails Arsenal transfer

That save helped Arsenal keep the lead at the break and is just the latest moment that Raya has impressed in between the sticks. Arsenal paid £27 million to sign the player from Brentford in 2024 following a loan spell.

In a high profile battle for the number one shirt, Raya had ousted Aaron Ramsdale from the starting XI. Speaking after the match, pundit Carragher tried to put into words just how good that piece of transfer business was for the club.

He said: “I think he’s a brilliant goalkeeper. It’s one of the best pieces of business that Arsenal have done. A real upgrade that from Ramsdale. David Raya, for me, it’s between him and Alisson for me in the Premier League for who’s the best goalkeeper. He’s certainly one of the best goalkeepers in the world and that’s why they keep so many clean sheets.”

Mikel Arteta on ‘brave’ David Raya

Raya also has three clean sheets in the league so far this season with Arsenal’s three goals conceded the joint fewest in the division, alongside Crystal Palace. The goalkeeper was particularly impressive on the opening weekend of the season against Manchester United.

Speaking after that game, Arteta said: “David is very big here [pointing to his head] and he’s very brave. You cannot be the tallest, but you have the will and the courage to go for this kind of balls. That’s a massive attribute.

“And then, he’s a super athlete. He’s someone really athletic: really powerful, really dynamic, really agile. That’s a big advantage because he can time things really well and on that action [Raya punching away a cross under pressure from United’s Matthijs de Ligt] especially, when there are so many bodies in the box, to come out and do that, it shows his courage and personality, and his capacity to deal with these situations.”

In other news, Arsenal vs West Ham early injury news as 5 ruled out and 2 doubts for Premier League clash.