Gravity-defying leaps, match-winning blocks, good distribution and calming catches are simply a number of the attributes which have helped David Raya change into one among most essential lieutenants in Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
The Spaniard has gained three consecutive Premier League Golden Gloves (awarded to the goalkeeper with essentially the most clear sheets) and was instrumental in final season’s title glory.
Solely Petr Cech and Joe Hart have extra Golden Gloves, on 4 apiece, and Raya is looking them down. He’s additionally within the working for the Yashin Trophy – the Ballon d’Or for goalkeeper of the yr.
Every day Mail Sport has enlisted the assistance of Asmir Begovic, the previous Chelsea Premier League-winning goalkeeper with greater than 300 appearances within the high flight, to interrupt down Raya’s strengths, weaknesses and growth throughout six key areas.
The result’s a portrait of a goalkeeper whose sport shouldn’t be merely about spectacular saves, however about making the best resolution, on the proper time, many times.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya is a three-time Premier League Golden Glove winner
Raya’s consistency has seen him change into one of many key lieutenants in Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal
ONE-ON-ONES
There may be in all probability no higher instance of Raya’s proficiency at this ingredient of goalkeeping than his marvel save in opposition to West Ham in Could. With the rating at 0-0, Mateus Fernandes was one-on-one in opposition to Raya with loads of time on his aspect and an enormous portion of the objective to goal at.
But Raya refused to commit early, standing tall and making himself as massive as doable, forcing Fernandes to take the near-post possibility. When the shot lastly got here, Raya reacted brilliantly at point-blank vary to dam it along with his physique and preserve the scores degree.
It was that save that despatched Arsenal on their solution to the title, a cease made below intense stress. Reasonably than playing on the place a striker will end, he stays affected person to slender the angle and make the attacker beat him.
‘That is the place he involves life,’ says Begovic, who runs a goalkeeping academy specialising in teaching and educating younger keepers.
‘He’s superb when it comes to his decision-making, which methods to make use of, when to exit, tips on how to go. He is excelled on this a part of the sport. You need to use completely different methods. You need to use a full unfold: a smother the place you throw your physique and chest on the ball and go together with your arms first.
‘You need to use the Okay-block, which is one thing some goalkeepers use if you get actually near an attacker – when a keeper goes on his knee and places his arms out like a Okay signal.
‘There’s alternative ways you possibly can problem the attackers in a one-v-one state of affairs. He has all these methods. He is actually good and selective as to when to make use of them.
‘One of the best (keepers) have completely different strings to their bow and are ready to make use of completely different methods and use them rather well in occasions they should.’
Begovic’s verdict: 9/10
Raya pulls off his essential one-on-one save in opposition to West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes final season
Asmir Begovic, a Premier League winner with Chelsea, is massively impressed by Raya’s all-round sport
SHOT-STOPPING
Raya’s reflexes are tremendous sharp. And there are many examples. There’s the save in opposition to Atalanta within the Champions League in September 2024 the place he first sprang low to his proper to parry Mateo Retegui’s penalty earlier than one way or the other scrambling again to his toes and throwing himself in the other way to claw the striker’s header off the road from the rebound. It was a exceptional show of agility and restoration.
Most just lately, in fact, he denied Enzo Le Charge from the penalty spot in opposition to Sunderland, diving sharply to his left and pushing the midfielder’s effort on to the submit.
‘His shot-stopping has been top-of-the-line (on the earth), completely great,’ says Begovic. ‘Once you play for a staff like Arsenal, it isn’t a lot a number of photographs a sport, it is about having to make that one save.
‘And he is been ready to try this. He is confirmed up in massive moments and helped them win many, many video games.
‘There’s many issues in shot-stopping. In fact, years of practise and coaching, your physicality, your energy, your velocity. So I feel stability, method, many alternative elements go into it.
‘Particularly, for those who take a look at his energy, his spring is ready to actually cowl the objective. That is what’s wanted. When you take a look at goalkeepers (like Raya) which are barely shorter in top, then they want a variety of energy and push to have the ability to go and canopy the objective.
‘Goalkeepers which are a bit taller, greater, they’ve an even bigger wingspan, they’ll get away with perhaps not having as a lot energy. So his spring and energy is second to none. It’s a must to compensate.’
Begovic’s verdict: 9/10
Raya makes a exceptional double save in opposition to Atalanta within the Champions League
And he will get down brilliantly to tip Enzo Le Charge’s penalty on to the submit in final weekend’s win over Sunderland
AERIAL ABILITY
Of Raya’s many strengths, it’s within the air the place a chink within the armour will be discovered. He’s nonetheless superb, little question, simply not superhuman like he’s in most different classes.
At 6ft tall, he is among the smaller goalkeepers within the Premier League, so can’t simply rise above everybody else on crosses and corners to steal the ball away from giants attempting to attain. Reasonably than merely plucking the ball out of the air, Raya usually has to depend on his positioning.
‘He copes nicely nevertheless it’s the trade-off,’ says Begovic. ‘When you’re at a sure top, and clearly you possibly can’t do all the things, it’s a must to depend on your team-mates to assist in the air.
‘He competes, he punches, he makes use of completely different methods. He won’t have the ability to catch actually because he won’t have the ability to attain a sure place (because of his top), however he definitely makes good selections as to when to go, when to not go for crosses.’
His dimension does, nonetheless, drive Raya to compensate in different methods. It leaves him making use of his goalline extra, as a substitute of at all times popping out to catch the ball. ‘His foremost energy will likely be on the goalline and that is the place he’ll at all times look to revert to and make the save as and when he must,’ Begovic says. ‘Folks may assume that isn’t being aggressive, however truly generally it is being extra smart.
‘As a result of if you cannot get the ball, you continue to give your self an opportunity to make a save for those who keep on the road. However for those who exit and miss it, then you definately’re normally in a world of hassle.
‘One of the best factor about Arsenal is that they’ve constructed that relationship over time the place they know what Raya’s strengths are and what they don’t seem to be, and when he’ll do issues. He is aware of when to depend on his defenders (on aerial balls), and assist them out in numerous methods.
‘It is very tough to seek out goalkeepers who do completely all the things. It’s a must to choose and select your battles.’
Begovic’s verdict: 6/10
At 6ft tall, Raya is among the smaller goalkeepers within the league, so can’t simply rise above everybody else on crosses and corners
DISTRIBUTION
Raya is superb at distributing the ball shortly to arrange counter-attacks by means of lengthy throws and pin-point kicks down subject.
It helps make Arsenal lethal in transition. Raya can flip a defensive state of affairs into an attacking alternative inside seconds. His lengthy throws are notably helpful after corners, permitting Arsenal to bypass the primary line of stress and launch gamers into house earlier than the opposition can reorganise.
His strong distribution extends to a confidence in taking part in brief passes below stress, making him an essential a part of Arsenal’s build-up from the again after they do not wish to go lengthy.
Begovic sees this as an actual energy of Raya’s. ‘Ensuring his distribution is spot on is one thing he is at all times prided himself on,’ he says.
‘He does not get into too many uncomfortable conditions due to Arsenal’s backline however when he does, he has the completely different vary of passing, which he additionally had at Brentford and Blackburn. It was at all times one of many strengths of his sport.
‘There’s the distribution together with your toes, out of your arms, objective kicks. Clearly then in dwell play there’s coping with stress and coping with completely different presses. Taking a look at his physique sort and the way in which he presents himself, it is one thing that he is fairly comfy in doing.
‘If I look now at Raya and Aston Villa’s Zion Suzuki and Jordan Pickford. They’re very, superb at distribution. However Raya is correct up there.’
Begovic’s verdict: 9/10
Raya’s distribution along with his toes is great and he usually begins Arsenal’s assaults with pinpoint passing
PERSONALITY
Raya shouldn’t be a goalkeeper who hides from the highlight. He’s an assured and vocal presence behind Arsenal’s defence, demanding focus from these in entrance of him whereas taking accountability when the stress is on.
He’s additionally extremely aggressive and animated, his frustration fast to rise when issues go improper. Most significantly, Raya has proven a powerful mentality when he has made errors, persevering with to demand the ball and play out from the again, for instance, reasonably than permitting errors to have an effect on his confidence.
Begovic says: ‘He appears actually well-balanced in how he approaches the sport, nice composure. He is been so dependable and that is the type of presence you want at any membership, however particularly at an enormous membership.
‘It is essential to convey that sense of calmness. We name it being nearly emotionally impartial, by no means get too excessive, by no means get too low, being constant. They (the backline) go searching and see you are very assured in what you are doing, very protected, very comfy and that provides a variety of confidence to the opposite gamers.’
Begovic’s verdict: 8/10
‘Raya appears rather well balanced in how he approaches the sport, nice composure,’ says Begovic
THE ‘BIG’ MOMENTS
From all of Raya’s strengths, there’s one space Begovic believes the Spaniard has improved most in.
‘That capacity to make the massive saves,’ says Begovic. ‘In Arsenal’s development, he isn’t needed to make as many saves, however we are able to take a look at many video games the place he makes these massive, essential saves.
‘That is a ability as a result of it takes focus, it takes focus, a save that occurs within the seventy fifth minute after perhaps not having had an terrible lot to do. In order that’s positively one thing the place he is progressed his sport and once more, it exhibits why he’s of the world’s finest. The opposite factor is consistency. His consistency on the highest degree has positively improved.’
For Begovic, Raya ought to win the Yashin Trophy. ‘Sure, he’s been one of the best all-round goalkeeper within the season and essentially the most constant in his performances,’ he says.
Raya will definitely have earned the accolade.
Begovic’s verdict: 9/10
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