Since moving to the Emirates at the start of the 06/07 season I don't think a club has had a tougher time trying to establish a 'keeper as long term #1. Jens Lehmann started the era as undisputed first choice, but by the second season at our new home he had been replaced by Manuel Almunia.
Almunia was never top class, but did hold out as #1 for 3 seasons, playing a total 109 PL games and 175 in total.
Lukasz Fabianski was his main competition for a few years, but the current West Ham man only made 32 PL appearances. Vito Mannone also came in for a few games, with the Italian making 15 PL apps.
The man who finally ended the Almunia reign was Wojciech Szczesny. After massively impressing on loan at Brentford and in the academy, Szczesny was always likely to be a star 'keeper and he took advantage of injuries in the 10/11 season and then established himself for the next 3 seasons. Both on and off field issues caught up with him though, and in the 14/15 season he lost his place to Colombian David Ospina.
Ospina didn't convince, and Arsene Wenger took up the opportunity to sign a PL great - Petr Cech. There had been question marks over Cech since his head injury, and an own goal on debut didn't ease those fears. Cech did establish himself for 3 seasons, but the "15-20 points a season" 'keeper was not in evidence during his time at Arsenal.
An injury to Cech early in 2018/19 season gave Bernd Leno his debut and the German international solidified his place as #1 for 3 seasons.
Emiliano Martinez had been at Arsenal since 2012 and watched many of the above play ahead of him. Countless loans, a few cup games - including a nightmare debut in that 7-5 - and a handful of PL games meant Emi had only played 14 games in 7 seasons for Arsenal before Mikel Arteta took over. An injury to Leno suddenly gave Martinez a chance during the Covid season, and remained first choice for the rest of the season including an FA Cup final win, playing 24 times including the Community Shield. However, due to PTSD of the pre-Arteta times, Martinez demanded a move and Leno was back in goal.
Aaron Ramsdale was the shock signing ahead of the 21/22 season, carrying on his shoulders a reputation for relegations. It didn't take long for Ramsdale to replace Leno, and a decent debut season was followed by a great 2nd season when he helped Arsenal to go so close to the title.
David Raya was linked to Arsenal for years, especially since Arteta took over. When the opportunity to bring in the Spaniard Arteta didn't hesitate despite the form and fan admiration for Ramsdale. Arteta ruthlessly dumped Ramsdale and Raya became #1. Golden gloves were the reward for Raya and Arteta, although the title challenge once again came up short.
Mart Poom, Mathew Ryan, Runar Runarsson, Matt Turner and now Neto are among the other 'keepers who have enjoyed the Emirates as Arsenal 'keepers.
Despite only being here a year, David Raya is already well on the way to being the best 'keeper of the Emirates Era. Not sure who is the current holder of that accolade, and it remains to be seen if Raya can beat the 3 year curse that befell Almunia, Szczesny, Cech and Leno
Best Arsenal 'keeper of Emirates Era?
posted 1 week, 3 days ago
Petr Cech. There had been question marks over Cech since his head injury, and an own goal on debut didn't ease those fears.
This seems odd DJ. His head injury was in 2006. He was then phenomenal for years. He signed for Arsenal 10 years later. Irrelevant point but thought i'd query it.
posted 1 week, 3 days ago
Emi by far but Raya could take the title from him this season.
posted 1 week, 3 days ago
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 59 minutes ago
Petr Cech. There had been question marks over Cech since his head injury, and an own goal on debut didn't ease those fears.
This seems odd DJ. His head injury was in 2006. He was then phenomenal for years. He signed for Arsenal 10 years later. Irrelevant point but thought i'd query it.
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Many times over those 10 years, people had said Cech wasn’t the GK he was before that injury. Funny enough his best season was the one where he was dropped for Courtois, every time he deputised, people seemed to wonder why Courtois was #1 ahead of him. Then he moved to Arsenal and people quickly found out why.
posted 1 week, 3 days ago
30 game Emi 😂😂 You wanted him sold on the spot after the Reading game 😂😂😂
posted 1 week, 3 days ago
comment by Bats Uncensored (U18355)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 59 minutes ago
Petr Cech. There had been question marks over Cech since his head injury, and an own goal on debut didn't ease those fears.
This seems odd DJ. His head injury was in 2006. He was then phenomenal for years. He signed for Arsenal 10 years later. Irrelevant point but thought i'd query it.
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Many times over those 10 years, people had said Cech wasn’t the GK he was before that injury. Funny enough his best season was the one where he was dropped for Courtois, every time he deputised, people seemed to wonder why Courtois was #1 ahead of him. Then he moved to Arsenal and people quickly found out why.
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No chelsea fan said it. I think his best was probably the 2012 season. But his performances remind so high throughout his time at chelsea its hard to pick.
04/05 obviously had the accolades but imo had better individual seasons
posted 1 week, 2 days ago
Martinez was extraordinary when he got a proper run in the team, selling him was absolutely ridiculous & a terrible decision by Arteta.
After those incredible performances the previous season he should have been made No.1 but Arteta dropped the ball on that & so he left.
The fact that Martinez can be an absolute be||-end doesn’t change any of this.
Second was Szczesny, him leaving was also poor man-management, this time by Wenger.
Raya is third right now but who knows where he ends up ?
Ramsdale was truly excellent at first but then started making too many errors, as he himself has admitted he loses concentration.
I don’t really rate any of the others, Cech was absolutely fantastic for Chelsea but never seemed to be the same after his terrible injury.
posted 1 week, 2 days ago
Martinez was #1 when he left. He left over a 5% chance an experienced German international would win his place back...
posted 1 week, 2 days ago
Clearly I disagree about Cech’s performances - I thought he went from supernatural before his head injury to just very good for a while, but the decline was then swift - especially at Arsenal, I highly doubt that the injury was unrelated.
posted 1 week, 2 days ago
comment by ItsAboutTheBackFour (U9916)
posted 3 hours, 5 minutes ago
Martinez was extraordinary when he got a proper run in the team, selling him was absolutely ridiculous & a terrible decision by Arteta.
After those incredible performances the previous season he should have been made No.1 but Arteta dropped the ball on that & so he left.
The fact that Martinez can be an absolute be||-end doesn’t change any of this.
Second was Szczesny, him leaving was also poor man-management, this time by Wenger.
Raya is third right now but who knows where he ends up ?
Ramsdale was truly excellent at first but then started making too many errors, as he himself has admitted he loses concentration.
I don’t really rate any of the others, Cech was absolutely fantastic for Chelsea but never seemed to be the same after his terrible injury.
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Yeah pretty much the order I'd have too and if we see some major success and Raya is good throughout that, he'll take number one.
Martinez and Szczesny, especially Szczesny were capable of better saves imo, Ramsdale too seemed capable of absolutely heroic games a bit like when De Gea wasn't trash.
But Raya is probably the best fit for Arteta's Arsenal and if we win some major trophies during this era I think he'd end up clear number one putting in solid allround performances if not spectacular ones.
posted 1 week, 2 days ago
I feel like people don't really watch Martinez. He's just as likely to let a soft goal in as he is to make an outstanding save. He is still a good goalie of course, and I wanted him to stay.