Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya will win the Premier League’s Golden Glove this season, even with three games of the league season remaining.
The 28-year-old joined Arsenal on loan from Brentford in the summer and quickly established himself as the club’s first choice in between the sticks ahead of Aaron Ramsdale, who has had to settle for a place on the bench for the majority of the campaign. It now seems that the decision has been justified with Raya recording the most clean sheets of any goalkeeper this season.
The Spaniard has kept the ball out of the net 14 times in the Premier League this season. It was confirmed that he can’t be caught during Everton’s game against Luton Town on Friday night. The Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is second on the list with 12 clean sheets.
But Elijah Adebayo’s 31st-minute goal for Luton, which was assisted by Gunners loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga, ended the England goalkeeper’s chance of overtaking Raya. After the match against Luton, Everton will have just two league matches remaining meaning the most clean sheets Pickford can achieve is 14, equalling Raya’s total.
The Arsenal goalkeeper will be able to ensure that he is on his own in the Golden Glove standings when the Gunners take on AFC Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium. A clean sheet will take Raya’s total to an uncatchable 15 for the season.
Raya becomes the first Arsenal goalkeeper to win the Golden Glove since Petr Cech in the 2015-16 season, keeping 16 clean sheets as the Gunners finished second in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta may feel vindicated about his goalkeeper’s clean sheet tally this season. The Arsenal manager came in for criticism after replacing Aaron Ramsdale with Raya, who joined the club on a season-long loan from Brentford in August.
It would also give Mikel Arteta’s side a brilliant chance of opening up a four-point gap on second-placed Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title. City take on Wolves at the Etihad Stadium in Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off.