David Raya : From baptism of fire to golden glove

David Raya has gone from making the most saves to the keeping the most clean sheets in the last two Premier League season. His story is far from easy, but he has proven worthy of the achievement.

Ever since he left his country to pursue a career as a professional Goalkeeper, David Raya was always going to be something special, given the embodiment of skills he is.

From joining Blackburn Rovers on scholarship before his 17th birthday to becoming a crucial part of Arsenal’s title pursuit, here is a breakdown of what David Raya was, and is all about.

The beginning…

Though David Raya started his career in goal, he doubles as an outfield player in fustal, a football-based game played on a hardcourt like a basketball court, smaller than a football pitch, and mainly indoors. It has similarities to five-a-side football and indoor football.

Before moving to England, the now 28-year-old played fustal in Spain, which justifies how good he is with his feet.

He was one of the two Cornella players that was handed a trial at Blackburn as part of agreement of the deal that brought Hugo Fernandez to the club.

He started his time in England very well and was handed his first professional contact before his 19th birthday, and was sent out on loan to Southport.

After impressing at the Conference Premier club at the time, Raya was rewarded with a three year contract by The Riversiders ahead of the 2015-16 season and was made backup to Jason Steele.

Becoming the first-choice at Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn, unfortunately suffered relegation at the end of the 2016-17 campaign and dropped to League One.

Steele then secured a move to Sunderland, and Raya was promoted to the first choice Goalkeeper, and he helped them secure qualification back into the Championship, finishing second behind Wigan Athletic at the end of their first season in the league.

Raya kept 17 clean sheets in 47 games, conceding 42 goals across all competitions.

Return to the Championship and move to Brentford

Raya retained his No.1 spot and helped the club finish 15th in their first season back in the second division of English football.

His impressive showings earned him secure a move to Brentford on a four year contract. Blackburn received £3 million from the deal and it proved a great one as he hit the ground running.

In his first season, Raya won the Championship golden glove award, sharing it with Bartosz Białkowski of Ipswich Town as both tied on 16 clean sheets for the season.

The Spanish shotstopper was also nominated for the goalkeeper of the year at the London Football Awards, 2019, which was eventually claimed by Ben Forster of Watford.

Links with Arsenal in 2020

While impressing for Brentford in the Championship, Raya caught the eyes of Mikel Arteta, who was already keen on bringing him to the Emirates in 2020.

Following the departure of Emiliano Martinez, the Gunners were on the lookout for a deputy for Bernd Leno, and Raya was scouted as a worthy candidate.

Unfortunately, a deal could not materialize as The Bees were not interested in listening to any offer for the Goalkeeper, despite being out of favour at the time and coupled with fitness issues.

Thomas Frank’s side had aleady sold Ollie Watkins to Aston Villa in that summer, while Said Benrahma also joined West Ham United. It was thought that losing Raya will be detrimental to their ambition of reaching the top-flight.

Raya stayed the season of 2020-21 and was instrumental as Brentford secured promotion to the top-flight. They finished third in the Championship and went on win the play-offs by beating Swansea 2-0 in the final.

He made a total of 48 appearances, 45 of which came in the league, including the play-offs. He kept 16 clean sheets and conceded 36 goals in 42 league starts.

David Raya in the Premier League

Staying afloat in the baptism of fire

David Raya was an instrumental part of Brentford’s 13th place finish in their first season back in the top-flight.

Despite the lack of top-flight experience of the squad, they still managed to present themselves as compact as can be, even so in defence when the former Cornella man was available.

The Spaniard kept eight clean sheets in 24 Premier League appearances, conceding 27 goals, whereas Brentford conceded 29 goals in the 14 games other goalkeepers were used.

He recorded the third best save percentage in the league at 74.3 per cent, only bettered by Jose Sa of Wolves and Liverpool’s Alisson Becker.

Raya also averaged 3.3 saves per game, which ranks him in the top 10 for the season and ranked fourth for goals conceded per 90 minutes, at 1.1.

The following season, which was his second in the top-flight was even better as he kept 12 clean sheets in 38 games, conceding 46 goals.

Raya’s clean sheet was the fifth most for that season, only goalkeepers of teams in the top five kept more than him.

Despite this, he still managed to make the most saves in the division with 154, most saves per 90 minutes at 4.1, and also register the best save percentage at 77%.

At the end of the season, he caught the eyes of many teams but thankfully for the persuasiveness of Mikel Arteta, he signed for Arsenal and fulfilled a long-term dream of the Spanish coach.

David Raya style of play

Premier League fans have enjoyed Ederson Moraes manipulating things with his feet and Raya’s arrival also added to the fun. He is very reputable when it comes to ball playing.

In the 2020-21 Championship season, Raya made 300 passes more than any other goalkeeper in the league and was able to register a high completion percentage of 75.4%.

He also completed 317 long balls with an percentage accuracy of 42.9, one of the highest in the division for both goalkeeper and outfield players.

A former fustal player, his good passing range allows his team to counter opponents committing too many players forward. A recent evidence would be Arsenal’s third goal in their 5-0 win over Crystal Palace back in January.

Raya claimed the ball following a Palace set-piece and launched a quick throw to Gabriel Jesus, who covered ground before setting up Leandro Trossard on the break.

The attack was completed in just 10 seconds, and it was all down to the Goalkeeper’s instinctive charisma.

Moreso, comfortable covering the spaces behind his defenders, Raya allows his team play a high line, and is not fazed by pressures from attackers.

Although he can also get it wrong at times. Evident in his error that led to a Cristian Romero’s goal for Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby late in April.

His numbers also showed he is a very good shotstopper.

From baptism of fire to the golden glove

Controversies and becoming the right fit at Arsenal

Raya had paid the price at Brentford and is now reaping the rewards at Arsenal.He has gone from making the most saves to facing the least shots in the Premier League in the span of one year, crowning it with the golden glove award.

His move to Arsenal did not go down well with English fans as he posses a direct threat to a goalkeeper with the hopes of becoming England’s No.1 shotstopper in Aaron Ramsdale.

Former Premier League stopper Ben Foster once said: “I hate it, it’s pathetic. It’s something that didn’t need to happen, right. They did not need to sign David Raya. He’s [Ramsdale] been a top goalie for two years. He’s on the edge of being England’s No.1 with Jordan Pickford, he’s right there. When he’s full of confidence and he’s got a manager putting his arm around him, he’s as good as anyone in this country.”

Gary Neville also had his opinion on Raya’s signing known: “I’ve said this before, I’m not a fan of competition for goalkeepers. I think you need a clear No.1 and then a clear No.2. That’s my view.”

Even former Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger at some point questioned the decision to acquire Raya, when the club already have Aaron Ramsdale.

Raya was able to respond and bounce back from his errors. With 15 clean sheets in 30 games, the 28-year-old is shutting out the opponents in every other games, but of course not without the help of his defenders and the entire Arsenal team.

William Saliba, Gabriel, Ben White and Declan Rice have all been top contributors to the achievement of the Arsenal defence this season.

However, that wouldn’t take anything away from Raya, who had already proven himself worthy before earning a comfort zone. With him in goal, the team look more steady and much more conformable than with Ramsdale.

Raya has kept a total of 19 clean sheets in 37 games in both Premier League and the UEFA Champions League for Arsenal and it is becoming inevitable that his is signed on a permanent deal.

He also saved two penalties in the shoot-out win over FC Porto, which helped them reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2009-10 season.

Only joined on loan last summer due to Financial Fair Play restrictions. The Gunners paid £3 million to complete the loan deal and will sign him permanently this summer for £27 million.

David Raya has paid his dues and has become the cornerstone of one of the most exciting project in football today. He was not an overnight success and even though he has had little to do this season, he is up there with the best in the game, today.

His success has not been birthed overnight, but a product of patience and perseverance, has results in prosperity. He was close to sighing for Tottenham Hotspur last summer before moving the Arsenal.

Now he will look back and be proud that he made the right move in the end. He is important to Arsenal as much as the club is important to him. It is a mutually beneficial association.

Due to his style of play, David Raya is bound to make more mistakes in the future, but the club would not have anyone take his place between the sticks, because he is David Raya, not perfect, but a perfect fit for The Arsenal.

Hassan Afolabi