Mikel Arteta Highlights Goalkeeper's Impact on Team

Mikel Arteta was in no mood for rankings, but he left no doubt about just how central his goalkeeper has become.

Speaking before this weekend’s league fixture, the Spanish coach refused to label David as his best-ever signing, yet he underlined the scale of the impact between the posts.

“I don’t know – he’s been a tremendous signing, there is no question about that,” Arteta said when asked if the keeper was his shrewdest piece of business. “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.”

That last line landed with weight. Elevating the team is one thing; living at that altitude is another. Arteta made it clear the standards set by his No 1 are now non‑negotiable.

Pressed on how the goalkeeper had handled the intense scrutiny and early pressure spells that came with his arrival, Arteta pointed straight to what he sees as the defining trait.

“I think it’s his mentality,” he said. “David has tremendous quality but he has overcome a lot of difficulties and challenges to reach this point. 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.”

From digging in to demanding the highest level, the journey has reshaped not just the keeper’s reputation, but the ceiling of Arteta’s team.