“No matter what happens in Arsenal’s final three Premier League matches, David Raya has earned at least a share of the division’s Golden Glove award for a third successive season. Arsenal’s goalkeeper has kept 17 clean sheets in the 35 games so far. The only player who could match him is Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is on 13 and has four league fixtures left, making it increasingly likely that Raya will be the outright winner for 2025-26. He would be just the fourth goalkeeper to receive the award three seasons in a row after Liverpool’s Pepe Reina (2006, 2007, 2008), and City’s pair of Joe Hart (2011, 2012, 2013) and Ederson (2020, 2021, 2022). The numbers are startling. …”
NYT/ATH (Video)
3. Newcastle United (Home, 1-0 win, April 25)
The man with the golden gloves: Analysing David Raya’s best five saves of the season
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“Your manager has fallen out with the sporting director and results have gone awry, so you replace him. Easily done, it happens. But then it turns out that the new manager could not be more ill-suited to the squad, results go awry and so you replace him. A bad leader would hesitate and hope things worked out, but you are ruthless and decisive and turn to a manager who was once a youth player at the club and has some anecdotes about the old days. But it turns out some people think his methods are old‑fashioned and results go awry, so you replace him. And this time you pull a masterstroke. You get in a bloke who saved a team in not dissimilar circumstances last season, who takes 15 points from his first nine league games in charge, lifting you six clear of the relegation zone. If you beat Newcastle at home on Sunday you’ll be safe. You are a genius, your recruitment skills unmatched. …”
Scissors Kick 