Raya is about to reach its 100-game milestone for the Gunners in this round of Premier League. Arsenal coach Arteta talked about the controversy that caused when he first straightened Raya.

When talking about Raya's clean record, Arteta said: "He was incredible. When I first introduced him, I suffered a lot of criticism, but now it seems that it proves the vision at that time. It helps us understand things, especially looking back in a few months or years later.

Regarding the abandonment of Ramsdale, Arteta said: "I knew very well that reaction would be there (strong opposition from the outside world). I understand this country, I know what I am doing, and I understand the situation at that time. If it were a player from Serbia, it would definitely be another way of saying it.

"He (Ramsdale) is a beloved player, a special mission, an English native... there are many factors that can trigger this big debate."

Speaking of the difficult early days after Raya took over, Arteta added: "I know he had the courage to deal with this situation first because it was not easy when you come to a bigger club, and it was a big step in life for him. We believe he is a qualified goalkeeper who can help the team."