In stark distinction to the final worldwide break, there’s a real feel-good ambiance round Arsenal in the intervening time.
As an alternative of going into the lengthy break off the again of a devastating loss at Anfield, the Gunners are sitting fairly on the high of the Premier League desk because of a routine win over West Ham United and Chelsea scoring a last-minute winner to take all three factors off Liverpool.
Furthermore, there may be now speak of the Emirates’ capability being expanded within the not-too-distant future, and in but extra excellent news, David Raya is reportedly getting a pay rise to mirror his significance to the squad.
The Spaniard greater than deserves his new phrases, however he is not the one participant in Mikel Arteta’s squad who ought to be getting a brand new contract.
Why Raya deserves a pay rise
Curiously, whereas reviews about Raya’s new cost phrases point out the inclusion of an elective yr in his contract, it’s fairly clear that this new deal doesn’t truly enhance the variety of commonplace years the Spaniard has left on the membership.
Which may sound relatively odd to some, and there may be definitely an argument to be made that it’s, however there are just a few the explanation why this pay rise greater than is smart.
Firstly, in contrast to when the previous Brentford ace was first signed and there was a component of doubt over who could be the membership’s beginning goalkeeper between him and Aaron Ramsdale, he’s now clearly one of many first names on the staff sheet.
Due to this fact, it is solely proper that his wage displays his true significance to the squad. On the £100k-per-week he was incomes earlier than these new phrases, he was making lower than 14 different gamers, together with Mikel Merino, Gabriel Martinelli, and Noni Madueke.
Second, along with beginning most video games for the aspect, the 30-year-old is undoubtedly one of many highest in his place within the Premier League, if not Europe.
For instance, he is gained the league’s Golden Glove award in each of the final two seasons, and based on FBref, he sits within the high 4% of keepers in Europe’s high 5 leagues for share of crosses stopped, the highest 7% for clear sheets, the highest 8% for save share and extra, all per 90.
Lastly, from a purely social perspective, it retains him pleased and reveals the opposite gamers that constant outcomes will likely be rewarded, which in flip helps foster a greater ambiance.
Raya’s Scout Report | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics | Per 90 | Percentile |
Targets In opposition to | 0.78 | Prime 2% |
Publish-Shot Anticipated Targets | 0.92 | Prime 4% |
Crosses Stopped % | 12.5% | Prime 4% |
Clear Sheets | 0.39 | Prime 7% |
Clear Sheet Proportion | 39.2% | Prime 7% |
Save Proportion | 76.2% | Prime 8% |
Def. Actions Exterior Pen. Space | 1.78 | Prime 10% |
Crosses Stopped | 1.25 | Prime 14% |
All Stats by way of FBref | ||
With all that mentioned, there may be one other participant within the squad who deserves the identical remedy.
The Arsenal star who deserves a elevate like Raya
The nice factor for Arteta and Arsenal is that, following the slew of recent offers agreed in the summertime, there aren’t many gamers who’d be capable to declare they’re at present underpaid within the squad.
Nonetheless, there may be one worldwide who may make that argument, somebody who on the very least deserves a elevate, if not a brand new deal: Jurrien Timber.
Sure, the previous Ajax gem, who joined the membership for round £38m in the summertime of 2023, is the participant maybe most deserving of recent phrases in the intervening time, and based mostly on reviews this month, it does seem to be he could quickly get them.
Being a right-back, and one that does not are likely to bomb ahead as a lot as a Trent Alexander-Arnold or Jermaine Frimpong, means the Dutchman does not at all times get the popularity he deserves from the broader footballing neighborhood.
However since recovering from his ACL damage, which dominated him out for just about everything of the 23/24 season, the 24-year-old has been unbelievable, and this season his performances are making him tougher and tougher to miss.
Like Declan Rice in midfield and Bukayo Saka on the wing, the monstrous defender very not often, if ever, places in a lower than a 7/10 efficiency and most of the time does higher than that.
Within the phrases of Arsenal podcaster Adam Keys, he is like a “dementor for wingers” because of his good anticipation, footballing IQ and stunning physicality. But, particularly this season, he has additionally been enhancing his attacking play, with the efficiency in opposition to Newcastle United arguably his greatest offensive show since becoming a member of the membership.
Unsurprisingly, the Utrecht-born titan’s underlying numbers from this season greater than again up the eye-test and show that he is hitting a degree few different full-backs can.
In accordance with FBref, he sits within the high 2% of full-backs within the Premier League for precise and anticipated non-penalty targets, shot-creating actions, progressive passes and tackles, the highest 7% for complete photographs and move completion, the highest 11% for touches within the opposition’s penalty space and extra, all per 90.
Timber’s Scout Report | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics | Per 90 | Percentile |
Targets | 0.34 | Prime 2% |
Targets + Assists | 0.52 | Prime 2% |
Non-Penalty Targets | 0.34 | Prime 2% |
xG: Anticipated Targets | 0.31 | Prime 2% |
npxG: Non-Penalty xG | 0.31 | Prime 2% |
Progressive Passes | 6.38 | Prime 2% |
Photographs on Goal | 0.86 | Prime 2% |
Passes into Penalty Space | 2.07 | Prime 2% |
By Balls | 0.86 | Prime 2% |
Shot-Creating Actions | 3.28 | Prime 2% |
SCA (Shot) | 0.69 | Prime 2% |
GCA (Shot) | 0.17 | Prime 2% |
GCA (Fouls Drawn) | 0.17 | Prime 2% |
Tackles Received | 2.41 | Prime 2% |
Tackles (Mid third) | 1.55 | Prime 2% |
Tackles (Att third) | 1.03 | Prime 2% |
Tkl+Int | 5.34 | Prime 2% |
Touches (Att third) | 23.10 | Prime 2% |
Penalty Kicks Received | 0.17 | Prime 2% |
All Stats by way of FBref for the 25/26 PL Season | ||
Finally, contemplating all elements, it is arduous to disagree with revered analyst Ben Mattinson’s declare that Timber is “among the best Emirates-era signings.”
Due to this fact, like Raya, he ought to be getting a pay rise as quickly as attainable, or higher but, a brand new contract altogether.
