Why David Raya Is Dominating The Golden Glove Race But Remains Second Choice For Spain

Raya's Stellar Season Ignores Spain Snub

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya is on track for a third consecutive Premier League Golden Glove, joining Pepe Reina in the record books. With a staggering 21 clean sheets in 40 games across all competitions (15 in the league), he's the Premier League's clean sheet king - yet he remains second choice behind Unai Simon for Spain.

“I like David Raya. He's having an incredible season in the Premier League...”

is on track to win his third consecutive , with 15 clean sheets in the league and 21 overall. He's the top goalkeeper in the league, yet remains Spain's second-choice behind .

Raya's season is a testament to Arsenal's rock-solid defense, the most resolute in Europe. He's arguably the most complete goalkeeper in the world, with stats to back it up – 21 clean sheets in 40 games is no fluke.

David Raya starred for Arsenal in their 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen | ČTK / imago sportfotodienst / JOERAN STEINSIEK

Raya recently kept another clean sheet against in the , helping Arsenal advance to the quarter-finals. He made another stunning save, earning praise from Arsenal legend , who spoke about him in glowing terms.

“This guy should be in contention to be player of the season because what he does for Arsenal every single time. It’s very difficult sometimes to see what a goalkeeper does, as he cannot make you win the game,” Henry said after the game.

“But he can make you hope that you’re not losing by making saves, and he does that two to three times every single game. It’s just outstanding.”

heaped praise on Raya, echoing Thierry Henry's sentiments about the Arsenal goalkeeper's stellar season.

Raya is an aerial powerhouse for the Gunners | Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn, Eibner-Pressefoto / Alamy / Profimedia

“He deserves every bit of credit he’s getting,” Rice said. “I wish people could come in every day and see how he trains. Because the intensity he trains at and the level that he trains at there’s no reason why he’s not doing what he’s doing on the pitch it’s incredible to see him every day.

"The effort with the lads, he’s turned into a real leader for us and when you’ve got a keeper like that it gives everyone confidence and yes, he’s incredible.”

Declan Rice heaped praise on Raya, echoing Thierry Henry's sentiments about the Arsenal goalkeeper's stellar season.

David Raya wins Coca-Cola Save of the Month for this super stop in @Arsenal's win against Brighton! pic.twitter.com/H5zCCQrtRu
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 16, 2026

Arsenal's title charge continues, and their defense is a big reason why – with Raya pulling the strings in goal. The Gunners are in contention for the Premier League and Champions League, and Raya's form has been a huge factor.

Raya's current form has earned him nominations for and Save of the Month for March, a testament to his outstanding season.

Raya's season deserves a big award – he's a shoo-in for Player of the Year. His campaign has been that good.

But the international break brings a harsh reality check: Raya's still Spain's second-choice, with Unai Simon preferred by coach . Guess we'll see how he takes it.

The big question is: why does Luis de la Fuente prefer Unai Simon over Raya? Given Raya's stats, it's a surprise to many that he's not starting for Spain. Maybe it's about experience or a specific style fit?

At this point, you expect nothing less ⛔️ pic.twitter.com/VO2qHiCSgJ
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 15, 2026

Why Simon Over Raya?

, Unai Simon's team, is having a tough season, currently sitting ninth in and struggling to qualify for Europe. This is a far cry from their fourth-place finish last season, where they conceded a league-low 29 goals. Now, they've conceded 41 goals, putting them in a battle to even make it to European competitions.

David Raya has been nominated for March's @PremierLeague Player of the Month award 👊

Vote for our stopper 🗳️ https://t.co/F3wM8T39ba pic.twitter.com/3IcnrXiM2y
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 26, 2026

The stats are telling: Simon has kept six clean sheets this season, compared to David Raya's 15. Raya, on the other hand, has excelled at Arsenal, with 21 clean sheets in 40 games across all competitions. It's no wonder Luis de la Fuente is sticking with Simon for Spain despite Athletic's struggles.

Stats Don't Lie

Athletic Bilbao's loss isn't just about Valverde's departure – it's also about their goalkeeper situation. Unai Simon's got experience, but Raya's stats are hard to ignore. With 21 clean sheets in 40 games, he's having an incredible season. Meanwhile, Simon's had a solid but not spectacular campaign.

The numbers suggest Raya's the better goalkeeper right now.

Raya's stats are impressive – 15 clean sheets and 22 goals conceded, compared to Simon's five clean sheets and 41 goals conceded. But, it's not a straightforward comparison, as Raya's got a stronger Arsenal defense backing him up.

The xGOT numbers are telling: Simon's prevented 0.5 goals, which isn't outstanding. Given Athletic's struggles, it's no wonder Valverde's on his way out.

Raya's xGOT stats show he's conceded slightly more goals than expected (-0.9), but context is key. Arsenal's rock-solid defense means Raya faces fewer shots, limiting his opportunities to make saves and boost his numbers.

Unai Simon back on international duty with Spain | Dennis Agyeman / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

It's a testament to Arsenal's strength that they don't allow many shots on goal, making Raya's clean sheet record even more impressive.

Raya edges Simon in save percentage, 69% to 65.5%. Given the teams they're playing for, it's not a straightforward comparison – Arsenal's defense is top-notch, while Athletic's is... not.

Raya's dominance comes when you look beyond shot-stopping. He's arguably the more complete goalkeeper, with his distribution, command of the box, and overall influence on the game.

Raya's All-Round Game Shines

Raya's stats are looking strong – 35 high balls won and 66.5% pass completion, compared to Simon's 22 and 58.1%. Given Arsenal's playing style, Raya's numbers are even more impressive.

Raya's Unique Blend of Skills

The 30-year-old is an incredible all-round goalkeeper and is unmatched at claiming crosses, dominating the box, and having the ball at his feet, which is why manager is such a fan of him. Earlier this season, Arteta called him 'the most attacking goalkeeper in the league by far'.

Perhaps that is somewhat of an oxymoron, but it demonstrates just how irreplaceable he is to the way Arsenal defend and start attacks quickly from the back. There are very few - if any - goalkeepers in the world who can match Raya here - certainly not Simon.

Experience vs. Current Form

Fair play to Simon, though – he's always come up big for Spain, like when he won . Experience and big-game temperament are hard to ignore, and Simon's got plenty of that.

National team managers value loyalty and consistency, and Simon's track record with Spain is solid. He's always delivered when it matters, making it hard for De la Fuente to bench him.

Simon had a strong qualifying campaign, keeping five clean sheets in six games and conceding just two goals. That's the kind of reliability that earns trust, especially at international level.

He was rock-solid in qualifying – zero errors leading to goals, 83.3% save percentage. That's the kind of consistency that wins tournaments.

Simon might not be the flashiest goalkeeper, but he's super reliable, and that's what Spain's been getting from him. Given their EURO 2024 win, would De la Fuente really mess with a winning formula?

At international level, a goalkeeper's reliability and shot-stopping are often prioritized over their ability to start attacks quickly. Given Spain's style, Simon's strengths align with what De la Fuente needs – solid, dependable goalkeeping.

Joan Garcia earns a place in the Spain squad for international duty | Dennis Agyeman / Zuma Press / Profimedia

Garcia's Rising Star

Joan Garcia's got fans buzzing – the 24-year-old Barcelona goalkeeper's got all the tools to be a world-beater. He's already making waves, and some think he's the future of Spanish goalkeeping.

With Simon and Raya getting older, Garcia's got a chance to step up.

Joan Garcia's performances for Barcelona this season have been phenomenal, earning him his first national team call-up alongside Simon, Raya, and Alex Remiro. He's conceded just 17 goals, a testament to his exceptional goalkeeping skills.

Despite playing fewer games than Raya and Simon, Garcia's stats are impressive, with a save percentage of 78.8% and 12 clean sheets. His form has caught the attention of Spain's coach, Luis de la Fuente, who included him in the squad for the upcoming friendlies.

Garcia's stats are crazy – he's prevented 9.47 goals and has a save percentage of 78.8%, showing he's a shot-stopping monster! His numbers might be inflated by Barcelona's attacking style, but still, he's making the most of the opportunities he gets.

Facing a high volume of shots could be a blessing in disguise – it gives Garcia chances to shine and make crucial saves.

Garcia's shot-stopping stats are unmatched in LaLiga, but he's not as strong aerially – just 16 high balls claimed. That highlights Raya's dominance in the box, doesn't it?

Raya's numbers in claiming crosses are top-notch, and it's clear why Arsenal value him so much.

Joan Garcia had high praise for David Raya, saying, “I like David Raya. He's having an incredible season in the Premier League.” Garcia, who recently earned his first senior call-up to the Spain squad, highlighted Raya's impressive performances, citing his ability to handle set-pieces and his exceptional footwork.

Raya's stats back up Garcia's claim, with 15 clean sheets in 31 Premier League appearances and a save percentage of 69.4%. He's also leading the Golden Glove race and has been instrumental in Arsenal's strong campaign this season.

“He's at a very high level and I'm really enjoying his season”

Joan Garcia's chances of making it to the World Cup are uncertain, despite his impressive performances for Barcelona. Unai Simon and David Raya are currently De la Fuente's top choices, and Garcia would likely need to compete with Alex Remiro for the third spot.

Getting called up for the first time is a huge achievement for Garcia, and he's eager to prove himself. He'll be hoping to grab De la Fuente's attention and secure a spot in the World Cup squad.