Declan Rice believes David Raya has gone to the “next level” this season and Arsenal will head into Sunday’s showdown with Manchester City full of confidence after yet another clean sheet.
Arsenal kicked off their Champions League campaign on Thursday night with a goalless draw at Atalanta.
The Gunners had David Raya to thank for that, with the Spaniard making a stunning double save to keep out Mateo Retegui’s second-half penalty and his follow-up header.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta labelled the saves as two of the best he has seen in his career and Rice believes Raya has improved from last season, when he won the Premier League’s Golden Glove award.
Raya’s loan move from Brentford was made permanent in the summer for £27million and he has kicked off this season by keeping four clean sheets in five games.
“We are delighted with another clean sheet. I think the two centre-halves (William Saliba and Gabriel), I can’t speak highly enough of them,” said Rice.
“The keeper has gone to the next level - unbelievable. They live the game in the right way. They love defending.
“When you have got a three who are a little triangle like that, who want it as much as they do, it can be really good.
“He (Raya) is so level-headed. He hasn’t changed one bit, even when Rammers (Aaron Ramsdale) came out and he came into the team.
“He didn’t change his mannerisms or the way he was. [There was] massive pressure and he was our No1 last season, and now he is obviously fully No1, there are no questions around that anymore.
“He is really focused and that is three games this season he has made crucial saves. He is doing everything right.”
Arsenal now turn their attention to Sunday’s clash at the Etihad Stadium after earning a draw in Italy.
The Gunners are just two points off Premier League leaders City and Rice believes they will head there in a confident mood, despite being without injured captain Martin Odegaard.
Arsenal’s defence has excelled this season and they have conceded just one goal in their opening five games.
And asked how much confidence another clean sheet gives Arsenal ahead of Sunday, Rice told TNT Sports: “Yeah, it’s massive.
“When you have got a solid base and a solid group like we’ve got, I think all 11 on the pitch - whether you are not a regular starter, whether you start all the time - everyone knows the objective going into the game.
“You can see that we are digging with each other until the end. That is going to be needed at the Etihad on Sunday.
“We watched their game [against Inter Milan] last night, teams don’t want to go there and sit in - but they are that good at keeping the ball, sometimes they sink you back.
“Sometimes you are just sat in there, not wanting to be, but you have to be so switched on and 100 per cent committed because they can hurt you at any time.
“Last year there was a few chances that we could have done better with there, but the manager has just said there that we want to go there this time to win and it’s crucial for our season.”
