David Raya Claims Premier League Golden Glove Award

According to BBC Sport, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has secured the Premier League’s Golden Glove award following Luton’s goal against Everton’s Jordan Pickford on Friday.

Raya has maintained 14 clean sheets in 29 league appearances this season since joining the Gunners on loan from Brentford last summer.

Before Friday’s match, Pickford was the sole contender who could have surpassed Raya in the Golden Glove race. However, Pickford’s chance to clinch the honor outright vanished when Elijah Adebayo scored the equalizer for Luton in their 1-1 draw.

Despite having two games left, Pickford remains two clean sheets behind Raya and can, at best, only match the Spanish goalkeeper’s tally.

There were initial doubts surrounding Raya’s arrival on a season-long loan from Brentford in August, especially with Aaron Ramsdale firmly established as Arsenal’s goalkeeper, having kept 14 clean sheets in all 38 matches of the previous season.

Following Raya’s signing, a BBC Sport poll indicated that 63% of readers believed Ramsdale should maintain his position over Raya.

Raya faced challenges at the start of the season, including two errors in Arsenal’s narrow 4-3 victory over Luton in December. However, he emerged as a hero for his team in March by saving two penalties in Arsenal’s shootout triumph over Porto, securing their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Since making his debut for Arsenal in September, Raya has missed only two league games this season, both against parent club Brentford, during which Ramsdale took his place, with Arsenal securing victories in both matches, 1-0 and 2-1 respectively.