'We are so happy to have him'
David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world. The Gunners keeper made four superb saves in his latest excellent display in the 1-0 Champions League victory over Sporting, with Kai Havertz hitting a late winner. It is rare for a team who are top of the Premier League and in a European quarter-final to have a goalkeeper in the mix for player of the year - but Raya must be in contention.
[Getty Images] David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world. At least according to his Arsenal team-mates. The Gunners keeper made four superb saves in his latest excellent display in the 1-0 Champions League victory over Sporting, with Kai Havertz hitting a late winner.
It is rare for a team who are top of the Premier League and in a European quarter-final to have a goalkeeper in the mix for player of the year - but Raya must be in contention. The Spain international has kept 22 clean sheets in 41 appearances in all competitions this season - and his latest could not have come at a more important time for his side. [BBC] Raya has kept the most clean sheets of any goalkeeper in Europe's top five leagues, with his 22 across all competitions four clear of Inter's Yann Sommer.
"It's something that I'm there for," Raya told Amazon Prime. "I'm trying to help the team as much as possible in any single action, not just defending but commanding and on the ball. " The clean sheet was Raya and Arsenal's seventh in the Champions League this season - the most of any goalkeeper and any side in the competition.
Raya continued: "That's something we've worked on a lot. It's so important for us, those clean sheets make it easier to win games. It showed tonight, scoring in the last minute and keeping that clean sheet decides those type of games.