Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Wed 25 March 2026 16:30, UK

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David Raya has been exceptional for Arsenal this season and is on course to claim his third consecutive Golden Glove.

The Spaniard will join Ederson and Pep Reina in the list of Premier League goalkeepers to have won three, and he could even tie Petr Cech and Joe Hart’s record number of four next season.

There were question marks surrounding the signing of the 30-year-old from Brentford in 2023, with Aaron Ramsdale having established himself as the Arsenal number one.

Mikel Arteta claimed the pair would interchange, but Raya did not leave the goal once he was in it, with his teammate forced to leave permanently to Southampton in 2024.

Arsenal’s form in all competitions this season should provide the goalkeeper with the first club trophy of his professional career, having won the European Championship and the Nations League with Spain.

Joan Garcia names David Raya as best in the world

Matt Le Tissier exclusively told Football Insider in October that Raya is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League.

Many still opt for the likes of Alisson or Gianluigi Donnarumma when asked the same question, but there is a widening acknowledgement of the abilities of Arsenal’s stopper.

The Spaniard, while on the shorter side, is dominant over his box and constantly capable of plucking crosses out of the sky – an important factor in the ever-reliant on set-pieces state of the Premier League.

And Raya is superb with the ball at his feet. Arsenal lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City on Sunday, with a large feature of the game being that Kepa Arrizabalaga could not pass through the press.

Faced with a similar issue, Raya has proven time after time that he is more than capable of clipping a ball over to the full-back, allowing his team to push forward.

But it is shot-stopping that attracts the eye, with the 30-year-old possessing a highlight reel of stunning saves over the last few years.

Asked by El Larguero on Tuesday who he thinks is the best goalkeeper in the world, Barcelona shot-stopper Joan Garcia said: “I like David Raya. He’s having an incredible season in the Premier League.

“He’s at a very high level and I’m really enjoying his season.”

The stats behind David Raya’s season

There is little doubt that Raya has the best defence in the Premier League and potentially Europe, lining up in front of him in every game.

That is reflected in the number of saves the Spaniard has made, with his 49 ranking him 19th among other league goalkeepers.

But when a shot does come in, the 30-year-old is usually there to stop it. His 69.4 per cent save percentage is not far behind Donnarumma’s 72.7 per cent, and Raya’s sweeping numbers outmatch the entire league.

Long balls are a speciality of the goalkeeper, with his 163 among the most completed in the league, in combination with his 604 total successful passes.

Despite how baffling it may have been at the time, there is little doubt that Raya’s arrival has been transformative for the Gunners.