Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya
Image Credits: Getty Images
If Arsenal’s recent game at Old Trafford did little to inspire much faith in Arsenal’s attacking abilities, the defensive display more than made up for it.
William Saliba and Gabriel, arguably the best central defensive partnership in the country, coped well against United’s forwards. As did full-backs Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori.
However, any time the Arsenal backline was breached, they had David Raya to thank for pulling off some crucial saves in a hard-fought win.
Arsenal’s clean sheet record in recent years has meant Raya has won the Golden Glove in each of the past two seasons, sharing the award with Forest’s Matz Sels last time out.
Another Golden Glove award would put the Arsenal stopper joint 2nd in the all-time charts, level with Pepe Reina and Ederson with 3. He would also move just behind Petr Cech and Joe Hart, who each have four Golden Gloves.
After his fine display against Manchester United, who would bet against Raya winning the award for a third consecutive season?
Golden Glove Race
We have taken a look at the odds at Bet442, the home of Premier League betting, to see if they think Raya will win the Golden Glove again.
Sure enough, they currently have the Spain goalkeeper as the 1/1 favourite, with Alisson Becker and James Trafford both behind him at 3/1.
If Sunday’s shutout is anything to go by, then David Raya could yet again be celebrating another Golden Glove come the end of the season, although I’m sure he’d prefer to get his hands on the Premier League trophy.
David Raya and His Unique Journey in English Football
From the Championship with Blackburn to the Champions League with Arsenal, Raya has certainly taken an unorthodox route to the top of the English game.
He first joined Blackburn Rovers’ youth system from Cornellà in 2012 and gradually worked his way into the first team, making his senior debut two years later.
Known for his sharp reflexes and ball-playing ability, Raya became Blackburn’s number one after returning from a loan spell with Southport before moving to Brentford in 2019.
At Brentford, he established himself as one of the Championship’s top goalkeepers, playing a pivotal role in their promotion to the Premier League in 2021.
His distribution and composure under pressure made him a standout in the top flight, eventually leading to a loan move to Arsenal in 2023, where he has gained exposure at the highest level of English football.
After his impressive loan spell at the Emirates, in which he won the Golden Glove for the 2023/24 season, Arsenal signed Raya permanently on 4 July.
He is now considered one of the best goalkeepers in the league, combining anticipation, agility and composure with the ball at his feet.
Mikel Arteta will be aware that if his side is to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title in 2025/26, his goalkeeper is required to continue his excellent form.