David Raya
David Raya
Goalkeepers win these polls when the night turns on one dive. Fans vote for the moment they can still see.
A penalty saved and a goal 120 seconds later become the same clip. The second player gets the roar. The first gets the award.
Two Arsenal winners in two weeks is how a perfect start looks on the league’s own ballot.
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David Raya has been voted Premier League Player of the Matchweek for matchweek four after Arsenal’s 2-0 win at Sunderland. The Spain goalkeeper took 26 per cent of the fan vote. Hull City winger Mohamed Belloumi was second on 23 per cent.
The headline act was his save from Enzo Le Fée’s penalty after Ezri Konsa was penalised for holding Dan Ballard. The score stayed 0-0. Two minutes later Bruno Guimaraes, on as a half-time substitute, scored from outside the box for his first Arsenal goal. Bukayo Saka added a stoppage-time penalty.
The league also praised Raya’s work on corners and long throws and his distribution. BBC rated him an eight, the highest mark in a side they called sub-par. That is the performance the vote has now rubber-stamped.
🚨David Raya has been named the Player of the Matchweek for his incredible penalty save against Sunderland on Saturday.
An Arsenal player has now won the award two weeks in a row, after Martin Odegaard secured it last week.
Best keeper in the world. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/vSJpwWJseb
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) September 16, 2026
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He is the second Gunner to win the award this season after Martin Odegaard in matchweek three, when the captain scored the winner against Chelsea. Other nominees this week were Elliot Anderson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Leif Davis, Pascal Groß, João Pedro and Kevin Schade.
Raya’s stop kept a fourth league clean sheet in four for the defence on the night, after one concession to Chelsea earlier in the run. Four wins from four left Arsenal on 12 points heading into the midweek cup and Saturday at Brighton.
There is no quote from Raya on the Premier League page. The numbers are the citation: 26 per cent, a penalty onto the post or past it depending on the angle, and a two-minute swing that decided the match.
Mikel Arteta had called the award of that spot-kick unacceptable and said the club would contact Howard Webb. The points were already safe. The vote is a reminder of why they stayed safe. Raya, not the referee file, is Player of the Matchweek.
Mikel Arteta - Arsenal