Oli Price-Bates, The Fresh Arsenal Podcast, external
The most eye-catching team news when Arsenal went to Goodison Park on Sunday was the change between the sticks.
David Raya made his Gunners debut in the 1-0 win and despite not having to make many saves, he was arguably Arsenal’s man of the match in the game.
We saw a glimpse into why Arteta was so keen to add Raya to the ranks. The Spaniard was near-perfect in possession, completing 32 passes with 94% accuracy and accurate with seven of his nine attempted long balls.
Raya’s composure in possession was obvious too, as Arsenal looked to take any momentum out of the game and dampen the home crowds enthusiasm. He was frequently positioned outside of the box, almost playing as a deep covering defender, providing an extra option as Arsenal looked to retain and progress the ball.