David Raya could now do something at Arsenal for the first time in 19 years this season

David Raya has become a hero to Arsenal fans.

Mikel Arteta signed the goalkeeper from Brentford in the summer of 2023, initially on a season-long loan deal. Raya replaced fan favourite Aaron Ramsdale, and that led to a ton of criticism.

There were a few shaky moments in his early games in the famous red and white, and that led to even more question marks over whether Raya was actually better than Ramsdale.

However, the Spaniard got better and better as the season went on and ended the campaign with the Golden Glove award. Arteta then signed him permanently this summer.

David Raya could become Arsenal’s Player of the Season

Arsenal have played five games in all competitions so far this season.

The Gunners beat Wolves, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur and have drawn against Brighton and Hove Albion and Atalanta.

The most interesting statistic from those games is that Arsenal have conceded just one goal. That is an outrageous record to have.

To add to that, since the turn of 2024, Arsenal haven’t trailed a single minute in away Premier League games and have conceded just three goals in 11 fixtures.

Arsenal’s defence has definitely played a big part, but Raya has stepped up when required too, especially since the start of this season.

In just five games, Raya has already made three saves that are out of this world. Two of those – the one against Aston Villa and the penalty rebound against Atalanta – are definite contenders for save of the season.

In our opinion, Raya is Arsenal’s Player of the Season so far, and we won’t be surprised at all if he goes on to win the award at the end of this campaign.

When was the last time a goalkeeper won Arsenal’s Player of the Season award?

Goalkeepers rarely ever win Player of the Season awards.

Since the award was established at Arsenal all the way back in the 1966/67 season, only four goalkeepers have won it – Bob Wilson in 1970/71, Jimmy Rimmer in 1974/75, David Seaman in 1994/95 and Jens Lehmann in 2005/06.

When Lehmann won the Arsenal Player of the Season award, he played 47 games in all competitions, conceded just 33 goals and kept 24 clean sheets.

Raya already has four clean sheets in five games, and we have a strong feeling he will have a better campaign this term than Lehmann did in 2005/06.

If he does, we think Raya should win the Arsenal Player of the Season award – he would become the first Gunners goalkeeper to get that trophy in 19 years.