The David Raya Yashin Trophy conversation has a high-profile new supporter in Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Chelsea goalkeeper believes the Arsenal number one deserves to be in contention for the award, pointing to three consecutive Golden Gloves and last season’s Premier League title.
Kepa Arrizabalaga Backs David Raya for Yashin Trophy
Arrizabalaga was speaking to Football.London when he praised the consistency Raya has shown at the Gunners over the past few seasons.
Primary Source Attribution & Official Details
“I see all the work he puts in every day,” Arrizabalaga said of Raya’s daily habits on the Arsenal training ground.
“He has shown over the last three to four years at Arsenal how consistent he is,” he continued. “The Golden Gloves, the crucial saves, how important he is for the team. He should be in the conversation to win it.”
Arrizabalaga also pointed to Raya’s temperament. “He’s always focused, he knows his strengths, he knows everything about the team in front of him, he is calm, confident, and to be at the level he is at, you have to have all of these qualities,” he said.
The numbers back up the praise. Raya has kept three clean sheets from five league games so far this season, building on 19 clean sheets during Arsenal’s title-winning campaign last term. He also saved Nuno Mendes’s spot kick as Arsenal reached the Champions League final.
“I think what with the last season that he had: winning the Premier League, winning the Golden Glove again, and being very close to winning the Champions League. Big things like that are not easy to achieve,” Arrizabalaga added.
Squad Impact & Tactical Context
Raya has been Mikel Arteta’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper since his move from Brentford, and his shot-stopping and distribution sit at the heart of how Arsenal build from the back. That composure under pressure is central to why Arteta trusts him in the biggest games.
Arsenal have also strengthened in front of him this summer, with defensive reinforcements this summer giving the back line more balance. That stability has shown across recent Premier League fixtures, where Raya has kept three clean sheets in five outings.
Yashin Trophy Presentation Date and Nominees
The David Raya Yashin Trophy bid puts him among ten goalkeepers on the shortlist for the award. His competition includes Thibaut Courtois, Joan Garcia and Unai Simón, each of whom has had a strong year for club and country.
Organisers will present the Yashin Trophy alongside the Ballon d’Or on 26 October in London, giving Raya just over a month to strengthen his case before the winner is announced.
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