David Raya's outstanding form for Arsenal has put him in an unbelievable position: one of the best goalkeepers in Europe, yet he's not guaranteed a starting spot for the Spanish national team.
David Raya has proven his worth.
David Raya doesn't need another big game to prove his worth. But he does it, time and time again.
On the pitch against Sporting CP in the early hours of April 8th, the Arsenal goalkeeper made five saves, many of them crucial. He kept a clean sheet, helping the London team leave Lisbon with a 1-0 victory. The "Man of the Match" award was well-deserved, but not surprising.
What's noteworthy is the repetition. Such performances are becoming a habit for Raya.
In the Premier League, Raya leads in the number of clean sheets with 15. In the Champions League, he has only conceded 3 goals in 10 matches, keeping 7 clean sheets. His 90% save rate is outstanding compared to the rest.
These statistics are no longer just fleeting highlights. They reflect consistency, a crucial factor in evaluating a top-class goalkeeper.
It's no coincidence that Kai Havertz called Raya "the best goalkeeper in the world for the past two seasons." Nor is it mere flattery when former legends Alan Shearer and Theo Walcott unanimously emphasized Raya's decisive role in Arsenal's victory.
At the club level, Raya has almost nothing left to prove.
At the club level, Raya has almost nothing more to prove. He is the cornerstone and foundation of Arsenal's system, from his goalkeeping abilities to his ball control and ability to dictate the game.
But football at the national team level is a different story.
The Spanish national team has no shortage of good goalkeepers. Unai Simon remains the familiar choice. Joan Garcia has also been given opportunities on several occasions.
Raya, therefore, finds herself in a paradox: her individual performance is at its peak, but her place in the national team is still not guaranteed.
Coach Luis de la Fuente once admitted that in England, Raya was considered the world's number one, while in Spain, he was less frequently mentioned. This wasn't just a media story, but also reflected the unique competition within the national team.
Raya is not an unfamiliar name. He participated in the 2022 World Cup, was the second-choice player at EURO 2024, and has 12 caps for the national team. The issue isn't experience, but the order of priority.
With the 2026 World Cup fast approaching, the question is no longer whether Raya deserves it. The question is whether the coaching staff is willing to make a change.
Because if you consider only his form, it's hard to find a reason to rank him behind anyone else.
Raya is not loud. He doesn't create controversial moments. But it is precisely this stability, coolness, and effectiveness that makes the debate clearer than ever.
At a time when even small mistakes can decide the fate of an entire tournament, choosing a goalkeeper is not just a matter of belief, but also a matter of courage in making the choice.
De la Fuente is facing that decision.
And if Raya continues to maintain his current form, benching him will no longer be a safe option, but could become a gamble.