‘Người khổng lồ’ Raya

David Raya is the mainstay of Arsenal.

With each passing week, the Spaniard sets another mark, and in England there is little doubt among the experts: he is the best goalkeeper in the world today. But for Raya, that is not enough - because his dream is bigger: to be a regular starter for the Spanish national team.

Fort named after David Raya

Every Arsenal game at the moment has one thing in common. Raya keeps a clean sheet.

Against West Ham in round 7 of the Premier League last weekend, he left the field without conceding a goal - just like the times he faced Olympiacos, Athletic Bilbao, Nottingham Forest, Leeds or Manchester United. That perfect streak of form turned Raya into a real steel wall, the one who helped Arsenal maintain a terrifying stability in the journey to conquer the Premier League and Champions League.

When Mikel Arteta insisted on bringing Raya from Brentford, many were skeptical. But time has proven everything: Arteta's belief was absolutely correct.

Raya is now more than just a “keeper” – he is the cornerstone of Arsenal’s possession philosophy, the world’s most modern goalkeeper, with the reflexes of a cat and the footwork of a deep-lying midfielder.

The stats don’t lie. Raya has won the Premier League Golden Glove for two consecutive seasons, and last season he kept 22 clean sheets in all competitions – nearly half his total appearances. That’s exactly what happened in 2023/24, demonstrating a level of consistency that’s rare in a position that’s always been one of the toughest.

At the age of 30, Raya reached the peak of his career as a goalkeeper.

At 30, Raya has reached the peak of his ability as a goalkeeper: experience, reflexes, composure and courage in big games. There is no moment that makes him panic.

Against West Ham, Raya's handling of the ball in the air, passing back, and even organizing attacks from the back line were all absolutely accurate. Not only did he prevent goals, he also opened up goals with long passes forward.

The thirst called "La Roja"

However, while his club career is at its peak, Raya has yet to find a suitable position in the Spanish national team. Since being first called up by Luis Enrique in March 2022, he has only made 11 appearances for “La Roja” - too few compared to his current level.

At Euro 2024, Raya was only allowed to start against Albania. Before that, he attended the 2022 World Cup as a reserve. Even when Unai Simon was injured and had surgery, Raya was only given a temporary chance in the Nations League qualifiers. And when the Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper returned, the door to the national team gradually closed.

David Raya is playing very well.

However, what makes Raya special is his unwavering desire. He does not complain, does not make noise, just quietly waits for the opportunity and continues to convince with excellent performance every weekend in the Premier League. For him, recognition must come from actions, not words.

Now, coach Luis de la Fuente has a “happy problem”: having two of the best goalkeepers on the planet. Unai Simon represents traditional stability, while Raya is the embodiment of modern football - fast, accurate and confident with his feet.

That competition, from a positive perspective, is a blessing for Spain. As “La Roja” is rediscovering its identity after years of transition, having a goalkeeper like Raya – who has the Premier League spirit but is imbued with Catalan DNA – is the key to a new cycle of success.

David Raya – the giant in the Arsenal goal, who is demanding justice for himself in “La Roja” – is entering the most brilliant period of his career. And if this form continues, the only question that remains is: How much longer can Spain continue to leave him on the bench?

Source: https://znews.vn/nguoi-khong-lo-raya-post1591195.html