The most important member of Mikel Arteta’s squad might just be the goalkeeper. That may sound a little strange, given the enduring brilliance of Declan Rice and the rugged consistency of Gabriel Magalhães, but David Raya increasingly stands alone as Arsenal’s most reliable performer.
Could the Spaniard be Arsenal’s player of the year? Could he even be the Premier League player of the year? There is certainly an argument to be made in his favour, especially after he produced another fabulous performance away to Sporting Lisbon in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final.
Raya’s trio of superb saves in Lisbon ensured that Arsenal remained in the game before Kai Havertz snatched the stoppage-time winner. Havertz had the goalscoring glory and the subsequent headlines that come with it, but Raya was more instrumental to this victory than any Arsenal player. His early save, tipping Maxi Araújo’s strike onto the crossbar, was crucial. The shot was measured by broadcasters at 66mph.
“Unbelievable,” said Havertz of his goalkeeper. “I think he is still underestimated in the world of football. For me, in the last two seasons, he is the best keeper in the world. He’s outstanding, he’s saved us so many times and we’re very glad to have him.”
Raya’s agility between the posts and his passing ability with the ball cannot be fully quantified by statistics, but there are facts that underline the point: he has the most clean sheets of any goalkeeper in both the Premier League (15) and Champions League (seven) this season. He seems certain to win the Premier League’s Golden Glove for the third consecutive year.
Raya’s reputation had been further enhanced by the struggles of Kepa Arrizabalaga, the backup goalkeeper, in Arsenal’s recent cup defeats by Manchester City and Southampton. If any supporters took Raya for granted, or thought his remarkable record was simply because of the defensive players in front of him, then these past few weeks have underlined his significance. When Raya is not playing, Arsenal are simply a different team. Rarely has a goalkeeper been so fundamental to a team’s entire gameplan.
“He’s extraordinary, magnificent, incredible,” said Arteta. “I don’t know the right word. We are so happy to have him. Apart from the qualities of David, when you have the courage and the will to do certain things, that is when you can reach another level.”
Speaking before this game against Sporting, a team that had won 17 consecutive home matches before their meeting with Raya, the goalkeeper described himself as “the last line of defence of and the first line of attack”. In this particular game, it was the defensive side of Raya’s game that made the difference. In others, it has been his vision and passing from the back.
These on-field strengths are obvious to the Arsenal supporters who have seen Raya’s growth since his move from Brentford in 2023. Less well-known is the 30-year-old’s importance off the pitch. Within the club he is regarded as one of the steadiest, most level-headed players of the squad. He is now part of the first-team leadership group.
Goalkeepers are not popular choices in the end-of-season awards. The last goalkeeper to be named Arsenal’s player of the year was Jens Lehmann in 2006, and the last to be named PFA player of the year was Peter Shilton in 1978. History suggests that Raya is therefore unlikely to secure enough votes to win the individual prizes, but there is no doubt he deserves to be in the discussion. Within Arsenal, if not yet within the wider football community, they know how important Raya is to the club’s hunt for success.