Arsenal star who has 'gone next level' before Man City clash revealed: 'Unbelievable'

Declan Rice believes David Raya has gone to the “next level” this play and Arsenal volition caput into Sunday’s showdown with Manchester City afloat of assurance aft yet different cleanable sheet.

Raya’s indebtedness determination from Brentford was made imperishable successful the summertime for £27million and helium has kicked disconnected this play by keeping 4 cleanable sheets successful 5 games.

“We are delighted with different cleanable sheet. I deliberation the 2 centre-halves (William Saliba and Gabriel), I can’t talk highly capable of them,” said Rice.

“The keeper has gone to the adjacent level - unbelievable. They unrecorded the crippled successful the close way. They emotion defending.

“When you person got a 3 who are a small triangle similar that, who privation it arsenic overmuch arsenic they do, it tin beryllium truly good.

“He (Raya) is truthful level-headed. He hasn’t changed 1 bit, adjacent erstwhile Rammers (Aaron Ramsdale) came retired and helium came into the team.

“He didn’t alteration his mannerisms oregon the mode helium was. [There was] monolithic unit and helium was our No1 past season, and present helium is evidently afloat No1, determination are nary questions astir that anymore.

“He is truly focused and that is 3 games this play helium has made important saves. He is doing everything right.”

The Gunners are conscionable 2 points disconnected Premier League leaders City and Rice believes they volition caput determination successful a assured mood, contempt being without injured skipper Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal’s defence has excelled this play and they person conceded conscionable 1 extremity successful their opening 5 games.

And asked however overmuch assurance different cleanable expanse gives Arsenal up of Sunday, Rice told TNT Sports: “Yeah, it’s massive.

“When you person got a coagulated basal and a coagulated radical similar we’ve got, I deliberation each 11 connected the transportation - whether you are not a regular starter, whether you commencement each the clip - everyone knows the nonsubjective going into the game.

“You tin spot that we are digging with each different until the end. That is going to beryllium needed astatine the Etihad connected Sunday.

“We watched their crippled [against Inter Milan] past night, teams don’t privation to spell determination and beryllium successful - but they are that bully astatine keeping the ball, sometimes they descend you back.

“Sometimes you are conscionable sat successful there, not wanting to be, but you person to beryllium truthful switched connected and 100 per cent committed due to the fact that they tin wounded you astatine immoderate time.

“Last twelvemonth determination was a fewer chances that we could person done amended with there, but the manager has conscionable said determination that we privation to spell determination this clip to triumph and it’s important for our season.”