Key Takeaways
- David Raya has kept 17 clean sheets in 35 Premier League games this season, putting him on course to win the Golden Glove for a third straight year.
- Only Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma could still match him, but with four games left and 13 clean sheets, Raya is increasingly likely to be the outright winner.
- A third‑consecutive Golden Glove would place Raya alongside Pepe Reina, Joe Hart and Ederson as the only keepers to achieve the feat.
- Raya’s consistency has been praised by manager Mikel Arteta, who highlights his ability to make crucial saves in tight moments that have helped Arsenal stay in the title race.
- Although Raya ranks modestly in total saves (17th) and per‑90‑minute saves (34th), his low workload reflects Arsenal’s strong defensive organization, which has produced a record eight‑match clean‑sheet run earlier in the campaign.
- The Athletic’s goalkeeping analyst Matt Pyzdrowski broke down five of Raya’s standout saves this season, illustrating the technical precision, balance and reactivity that underpin his award‑winning form.
David Raya’s pursuit of a third straight Premier League Golden Glove is shaping up to be one of the season’s defining storylines. After 35 matches, the Arsenal goalkeeper has amassed 17 clean sheets – already a personal best since his summer 2023 arrival from Brentford. That total puts him three clear of Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, who sits on 13 with four fixtures remaining. Unless Donnarumma manages an unlikely surge, Raya will claim the award outright, becoming only the fourth keeper in Premier League history to win it three seasons in a row, joining Pepe Reina (2006‑08), Joe Hart (2011‑13) and Ederson (2020‑22).
Arteta has been effusive in his praise, describing Raya’s consistency as “something that nobody expected” and noting that the goalkeeper often makes the difference when games are level or when Arsenal hold a slim lead. Those interventions have been vital in the club’s title challenge; Raya’s saves have repeatedly preserved points that have kept Arsenal atop the table or extended their advantage.
While Raya’s raw save numbers – 17th overall and 1.34 per 90 minutes, ranking 34th – may not jump off the page, they reflect a defensive unit that limits opposition chances. Arsenal’s back line has been exceptionally sturdy, yielding a record‑setting eight consecutive clean sheets across all competitions earlier in the season. Consequently, Raya faces fewer shots than many of his peers, meaning each stop carries heightened importance and demands sustained concentration.
To illustrate why Raya’s performances merit the Golden Glove, The Athletic’s goalkeeping specialist Matt Pyzdrowski dissected five of his most impactful saves this season.
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Brighton (home, 2‑1 win, Dec 27) – With Arsenal clinging to a 2‑1 lead, Raya anticipated Yankuba Minteh’s late‑game shot. A perfectly timed split‑step allowed him to drive his right foot explosively, and he chose the bottom hand to meet the ball’s rising trajectory, tipping it over the bar. Minteh’s stunned reaction underscored the save’s difficulty.
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Nottingham Forest (home, 3‑0 win, Sep 13) – After Chris Wood’s inadvertent deflection, Raya used quick shuffle steps and a micro‑step left combined with a drop step to get angle on the ball. The top hand was the correct choice here, giving him extra reach to deflect the effort onto the bar while rotating his hips and shoulders.
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Newcastle United (home, 1‑0 win, Apr 25) – Sandro Tonali’s 30‑yard knuckle‑ball swerved across Raya’s body. He initially leaned right, kept his weight balanced, then pushed off his outside leg, tucked his left leg underneath and swept across with a strong left hand to divert the shot. The save highlighted his reactive footwork and body‑re‑orientation under pressure.
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Chelsea (home, 2‑1 win, Mar 1) – In stoppage time, Alejandro Garnacho’s deep cross threatened the far post. Raya read the play early, stayed active on his feet, drove his left foot into the ground and used a power step to generate momentum, while his trailing right leg helped him extend and push the ball around the post. The intervention kept Arsenal five points clear.
- Everton (home, 2‑0 win, Mar 14) – Raya won an initial duel inside the six‑yard box, then shifted focus as the ball bounced back to the edge of the area. Despite a partially obstructed view from Martin Zubimendi’s leg, his balance and positioning let him snap out his left leg at the last second to block a shot from Beto, preserving a clean sheet that helped Arsenal go nine points clear after City’s draw with West Ham.
These examples show that Raya’s award‑winning form is built on a blend of anticipation, precise footwork, optimal hand selection and the ability to stay composed under pressure. Though his overall save volume is modest, the quality and timing of his interventions have been instrumental in Arsenal’s title push and have cemented his case for a third consecutive Golden Glove – a distinction that would underline both his individual excellence and the defensive solidity that has become a hallmark of Mikel Arteta’s side.