Arsenal have started the season in hugely impressive form, and Joe Hart has highlighted one of Mikel Arteta’s top players who has really stepped up.
After seven matches, the Gunners lead the way in the Premier League, sitting one point above the reigning champions, Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta’s team recorded a routine 2-0 win over West Ham United just before the October international break, and next up is a trip to Craven Cottage.
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The North London club’s squad is now really starting to come together, and according to Joe Hart, one player has seriously impressed him.
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty ImagesJoe Hart has been impressed by David Raya’s leadership at Arsenal
Hart has been impressed by the leadership David Raya has shown at Arsenal this season.
Raya, who’s been offered a new contract by Arsenal, has been one of the team’s top performers this season and already has four clean sheets in four games.
The former Premier League goalkeeper also claims that the Spaniard is ‘in the upper echelon’ of shotstoppers right now.
Speaking about the Arsenal shot stopper, Hart told The Breakdown: “He’s in the upper echelon. Of course, he’s going to need trophies to back it up. I think that goes without saying, that’s not a knock on him. Technically excellent, quick, he’s a real leader.
Raya was tasked with replacing Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal, which was a big call from the manager, but a gamble which Hart claims has paid off.
“You can see on the pitch, he’s really established himself at Arsenal. You know, it was a tough act to follow. Aaron Ramsdale had built up an affinity with the Arsenal fans. He’s a good character. He’s English. He looked like he was going to get an opportunity, maybe with the England team,” stated Hart.
“So, it was a big call to bring him in, but he’s been excellent since he’s come in. He’s been improving all the time. His coach believes in him, and the most important thing for me to see is that his defence believes in him.
“They know the positions he’s going to be in. They know the times they can give shots up. They’re in a really good flow, and I think as a foundation, Arsenal have built that, and with what they’ve brought in as well up top, they’re dangerous.”
Owen Hargreaves thinks Arsenal have the ‘best collection’ of centre-backs
Another area in which the Gunners excel is at centre-back, and Owen Hargreaves now believes Arsenal have the ‘best collection’ of defenders in the league.
Arteta has collated Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie and Ben White as their list of options.
TeamGoals concededArsenal3Tottenham5Crystal Palace5Newcastle United5Man City6Least goals conceded in the Premier League 25/26 season
Mosquera and Hincapie were the latest two players to be added to Arsenal’s squad over the summer, with the former having already shown his quality.
Speaking about Hincapie, Hargreaves claimed: “He’s a great player. That’s the best collection of centre-backs in the whole league. Easily. Van Dijk is still the best. I think those two (Gabriel and Saliba), plus the back-ups.”