Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba react to David Raya announcement at Arsenal
David Raya has been the subject of an announcement at Arsenal, catching the attention of centre-back duo Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.
The Gunners faced a tough final-day Premier League clash with Southampton on Sunday, 25 May, taking the lead through an unlikely goalscorer at St Mary’s Stadium, Celtic-bound full-back Kieran Tierney.
Ross Stewart equalised for the home side, piling more pressure on an already suffering Mikel Arteta, but Martin Odegaard spared the team’s blushes with an 89th-minute winner.
Despite positive signs from the Emirates Stadium, Arteta’s men remain without silverware since the Spaniard’s first season at the club, and nearly lost the second spot in the Premier League table.
David Raya picks up Premier League award at Arsenal
Taking to Instagram (25 May), the official club account wrote: “First Arsenal goalkeeper to achieve back-to-back Premier League Golden Glove awards… Congratulations, David.”
The announcement gained likes from Arsenal quartet, Gabriel, Saliba, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino following a difficult final-day clash against the Saints.
Raya shares the Golden Glove with Nottingham Forest‘s Matz Sels, with both claiming 13 clean sheets across the 2024/25 Premier League season.
Mikel Arteta must win silverware in 2025/26
Football Insider verdict
The Gunners are now without silverware since the 2019/20 season, where they picked up the Covid-19 era FA Cup trophy against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium, piling pressure on the manager.
Arsenal fans have made their feelings clear over Arteta’s future, but given his promises to those same supporters, it seems unlikely that a change will be made ahead of next season.
With Andrea Berta now appointed to help during the summer transfer window, the Gunners should be able to get the right business done, especially when it comes to buying a striker.
Football Insider understands that Viktor Gyokeres is “happy” to join Arsenal this summer, with Man United also in the race, and that would likely be the final piece of Arteta’s puzzle.
Had the North London side signed an out-and-out striker during the winter transfer window, the Champions League title might have come back to the Emirates.
Football Insider also understands that the way has been paved for Arsenal to sign Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, so the rebuild might just be about to begin.