Arsenal summer signing David Raya initially struggled at the Emirates, but he has now won the Premier League Golden Glove after a strong campaign.
Raya has been part of an outstanding Arsenal defence which has conceded just eight league goals in 2024, and he has shown why Mikel Arteta chose to bring him in.
There was surprise when fan favourite Aaron Ramsdale was dropped for the Brentford loanee, and after some early errors, the noise around the goalkeeping situation grew.
However, Raya grew into his role and kept his place in the side, and has not looked back. He has kept 16 clean sheets, which has already earned him the Premier League Golden Glove award, and he has now been praised by legendary former Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman.
David Seaman praises David Raya for strong Arsenal campaign
Speaking to TalkSPORT, Seaman hailed Raya after he was awarded with the Golden Glove, highlighting the impact he has had on Arteta’s back line.
“David Raya has come in, he has settled everything down, he has got used to playing for Arsenal. When he first came in, he found it difficult because when he first came in, everybody was telling me about his stats, that they are miles better than Aaron’s and everything, and I was like, ‘Hang on, guys, stats are really good for Brentford, the pressure (at Arsenal) is different,'” he stated.
“He struggled a little bit, if we are honest, to start to settle in, but now, especially with the defence, we have not had any injuries. So, that’s been brilliant.
“The back-four has been settled. Obviously, the left-back situation has changed a bit, but the defensive unit has been brilliant. That’s looked after him. He has come in, he is brilliant with his feet, there’s no doubt about that, that’s what Mikel Arteta, he wanted doing the short passes in and out so that they can get up.
“It has been a good season for him, to get the Golden Glove. It is a massive compliment and congratulations to David Raya.”
David Raya was crucial to Arsenal’s strong defence
Critics may point to Raya’s Golden Glove award being handed to him by virtue of having a strong defence in front of him, but the Spaniard has played a vital role in the back line.
His aggressive positioning and incredible cross-claiming ability means that teams find it harder to create chances in the air against him, and this allows defenders William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes to hold a higher defensive line.
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Raya’s brilliance comes in his shot prevention, rather than his shot-stopping, and his composure in late stages of recent games against Man United and Tottenham Hotspur show why Arteta was right to stick with him over Ramsdale.
