Jussi Jaaskelainen is a bona fide Premier League legend, having made more than 400 appearances in the top flight.
So he’s well-placed to deliver his verdict on the talents of some the current day crop of goalkeepers.
Many regard David Raya as the cream of the crop in the top flight at present, with the Spaniard having won the Golden Glove (most clean sheets, 19) award last season as the Gunners clinched a first league title in more than two decades.
When asked about the current crop of PL goalkeepers, former Bolton and West Ham man Jääskeläinen certainly looks at Raya as the standout shot stopper: “He’s been a fantastic signing. I remember when they signed him over (Aaron) Ramsdale, I was a little surprised, because I didn’t really see what the biggest difference between the two of them was.
“But they definitely got this decision spot on, and he’s been fantastic for them week in, week out.
“He has a great relationship with the centre-backs, even with Ezri Konsa coming in now. You can see the structure is there: even when the back four changes, everything works well. He is up there with the top keepers in the Premier League now.”
Jääskeläinen, speaking to kasinopartio.com, was also asked where Raya ranks in relation to some of the all-time great glovesmen of the past.
To that end, he feels the Arsenal man still has some way to go but is going in “the right direction”.
He added: “You have lots of top goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar, Peter Schmeichel, Petr Čech. He’s (Raya) definitely on the road to competing with these legends, but I think they are still a little bit ahead because of the years they’ve done it in the Premier League.
“Čech has 200 clean sheets, Van der Sar was 34 when United signed him, and he was unbelievable after that, he really was fantastic for United. And then Schmeichel is a legend himself. So he’s not up there with them yet, but he’s definitely going in the right direction.”
