says Riccardo Calafiori has made a ‘really, really good’ impression since joining , joking the defender would ‘put his head in a washing machine’ for the team.
at the end of last month, with the 22-year-old signing on the dotted line for a fee of around £42million.
Calafiori’s move came after – following an initial loan spell last season – and the pair remain the Gunners’ only two additions of the summer transfer window.
The Italy international – who is comfortable playing at both left-back and centre-back – was given his first minutes in Arsenal’s colours on Saturday as ’s men ran out 2-0 victors over Lyon to lift the Emirates Cup.
It remains to be seen if Arteta will hand Calafiori his full Premier League debut this weekend when Arsenal, last year’s runners-up in the English top flight, kick off their campaign at home to Gary O’Neil’s Wolves.
‘First of all, he’s a great guy,’ Raya told Sky Sports when asked about the impact Calafiori had made.
‘He’s young, only 22, and he’s hungry. In terms of football, he’s a great player who has a great future.
‘He can play left-back, he can play left centre-back. So, the first impression has been really, really good.’
‘He is very, very strong,’ Raya added.
‘He goes for the tackles. He just goes for it. He would put his head in a washing machine, if you know what I’m saying.
‘But the main thing is that he’s a great guy as well as a great player.’
According to Raya, Arsenal will need to be ‘perfect’ if they are to knock Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions off their perch this season.
‘Our second half of last season was nearly perfect but you have to be perfect to win the league, especially against Man City. They are so good and they are so experienced in this environment,’ the Spain goalkeeper explained.
‘We have to learn from everything, from every mistake and from the good things that we have done as well, to carry on and improve them.
‘That is what we need to do. It has been a fantastic year but we have to – and I have to – make the next one better.’
Raya reserved special praise for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, highlighting the centre-back duo’s strength and intelligence.
‘They are so strong and the relationship they have between them is incredible,’ Raya continued.
‘They both know where the other one is in every situation, so they have each other’s backs.
‘And they’re so clever, both of them, considering they are relatively young.
‘I know Wilo is a bit younger than Gabriel, but they are both relatively young and the positions they take up on the pitch to avoid stuff happening are incredible.’
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