Edwin van der Sar has left Arsenal star David Raya off his list of ‘world class’ goalkeepers – but named Manchester United flop Andre Onana amongst the most effective on the planet.
Raya has enjoyed one other superb season within the Arsenal goal, heading in the right direction to say the Golden Gloves award having kept 14 clean sheets in 30 matches.
The Gunners again had their goalkeeper to thank in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea, reacting quickly to palm away Alejandro Garnacho’s cross that nearly found its way into the far corner of the web.
‘It was an unbelievable shot and my heart almost stopped, but he kept it out again,’ Arteta said after the match.
Raya has been widely praised as one in all the Premier League’s best goalkeepers but United legend van der Sar doesn’t appear to have the same opinion.
Reeling through goalkeepers with ESPN, van der Sar responded ‘no’ when asked if Raya is world class with the Spain international the primary goalkeeper on the interviewer’s list.
Alisson, Becker, Thibaut Courtois, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Manuel Neuer were those hailed as world class by the Dutchman – somewhat curiously, alongside Onana.
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Onana joined United in the summertime of 2023 but endured two error-strewn seasons at Old Trafford.
After picking up an injury during pre-season last summer, Altay Bayindir began the season as United’s first selection in goal but his nervous begin to the campaign meant the club had no selection but to herald an alternative choice in Senne Lammens.
Onana was given one other likelihood to prove his value against Grimsby Town within the Carabao Cup but was at fault for 2 goals as United suffered a humiliating exit on penalties.
The Cameroon international was shipped out on loan to Trabzonspor in Türkiye.
While reports have suggested he’s desperate to return to Manchester and fight for his place, Lammens has excelled in his first season in England and would look like in no danger of losing his place anytime soon.
Among the many other goalkeepers who didn’t make the world class grade for van der Sar were Jan Oblak, Marc-André ter Stegen, Yann Sommer, Nick Pope, Jordan Pickford, Robert Sanchez, Guglielmo Vicario and Mike Maignan.
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