HIP, HIP HOORAYA

Arteta: Signing keeper David was unpopular but now he's Gunner be a legend!

- BY JOHN CROSS Chief Football Writer X@johncrossmirror

MIKEL ARTETA reckons he got "hammered" for signing David Raya, but now the Spain keeper is becoming an Arsenal all-time great.

Raya was an unpopular choice when he was brought in from Brentford and succeeded fan-favourite Aaron Ramsdale as Arsenal No.1 two years ago.

But Raya is now on the brink of a special piece of history as he is set to make his 100th appearance for Arsenal in all competitions against Nottingham Forest today.

He has already kept 41 clean sheets in those appearances and gained a reputation for some spectacular saves while twice winning the Premier League Golden Glove.

Arteta says that ratio alone puts him up there as the best in the club's history, which brings David Seaman, Jens Lehmann and Bob Wilson into the conversation as all three (right) were title-winning goalkeepers.

When asked whether Raya's clean-sheet record was pretty good, Gunners boss Arteta said: "Pretty good? It's the best in the history of the football club! It's unbelievable.