David Raya’s rise has been impossible to ignore, and now one of the greatest goalkeepers of the modern era has confirmed what many Arsenal fans have been saying for months.
For about five years, Raya has quietly, then loudly, established himself as one of the Premier League’s elite shot-stoppers. Two of those years have been spent at Arsenal, where he has transformed Mikel Arteta’s defensive setup with his incredible consistency, composure, and all-round modern goalkeeping skill.
Raya isn’t just collecting clean sheets; he’s redefining what it means to be a keeper in today’s game. His passing range, command of the box, decision-making under pressure, and ability to launch attacks have made him invaluable, not just to Arsenal, but to analysts across Europe. It’s no surprise he now ranks among the very best on the continent and, increasingly, the world.
And now he has received the ultimate seal of approval.
Thibaut Courtois, widely regarded as one of Real Madrid’s greatest-ever goalkeepers, has openly praised the Spaniard, placing him atop his personal ranking of the world’s best.
Courtois says he “really likes” David Raya and rates the Arsenal star among the top three goalkeepers on the planet. Asked to name his current top three, Courtois humbly removed himself from the list, explaining:
“The top three goalkeepers in the world right now? I will step aside for this one. Jan Oblak in 3rd, Alisson 2nd and David Raya 1st.”
That kind of endorsement carries enormous weight, especially coming from a Champions League winner who has dominated the position for over a decade.
But Courtois isn’t speaking out of sentiment. Raya’s numbers back it up.
Across the last two seasons, the Spaniard has claimed two Golden Gloves, while also topping the charts in critical modern metrics such as progressive passing, crosses claimed, sweeping actions, and build-up involvement.
To put it simply, he has become the heartbeat of Arsenal’s defensive structure, calm, reliable, and fearless.
And his current form is even more frightening.
This season, Raya already has seven clean sheets in just 11 Premier League games and only conceding 5 goals. To put that into context, he finished last season with 13 clean sheets in 38 matches. If he maintains anything close to this pace, he is on track to comfortably surpass 15 and potentially secure his third consecutive Golden Glove, an achievement reserved for generational talents.
Raya’s evolution from an underrated Brentford signing to the world’s top-ranked goalkeeper, at least according to Courtois, has been rapid, relentless, and richly deserved.
If this is what he’s delivering in November, Premier League strikers may need to find a new plan by May.
