Arteta Praises David as a Tremendous Signing for the Team

Mikel Arteta is not interested in ranking his transfer hits. He is very clear about one thing, though: his goalkeeper has changed the level of his team.

Speaking before this weekend’s league fixture, the Spanish coach was asked if his current No 1 was the best piece of business of his tenure. Arteta refused to be drawn into comparisons, but his admiration was obvious.

“I don't know – he's been a tremendous signing, there is no question about that,” Arteta said. “Whether he is the best or not is just an opinion. It doesn't matter, we are so happy to have him. He has elevated the team to a different level and now we have to maintain that level.”

The numbers and performances have underlined the impact, but Arteta went straight to character. For him, the story is as much about mentality as it is about shot-stopping or distribution.

Turning to the goalkeeper’s journey through a turbulent start, Arteta highlighted the resilience that has underpinned his rise.

“I think it's his mentality. David has tremendous quality but he has overcome a lot of difficulties and challenges to reach this point,” the manager explained. “It wasn't easy at the beginning, he had to dig in and prove himself. Now, he has the right to be one of the best.”

No grand declarations. No headline-chasing labels. Just a manager convinced that his goalkeeper has dragged the team up a level – and determined to see that standard hold as the season’s pressure builds.