'My heart almost stopped': David Raya's six best saves as Arsenal close in on Premier League title | OneFootball

Shot-stopper could be Gunners’ unsung hero this season

Another Arsenal clean sheet and with it another Golden Glove for David Raya to put on the mantelpiece.

The goalkeeper will be hoping to have some more important silverware alongside it by the end of the month, with Arsenal closing in on the Premier League title and a Champions League final just a few weeks away.

Arsenal's win over West Ham on Sunday took Raya to 18 clean sheets for the season in the Premier League.

For the third season in a row he has claimed the Golden Glove award, but that is not what gives the Spaniard the most satisfaction.

"Compared to the last few seasons, this season it has happened a little bit more where I helped the team to secure those three points."

With that in mind, here are six saves Raya has produced this season to help leave Arsenal on the verge of winning the title.

David Raya against Manchester United

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Matheus Cunha, August 18

Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal

Raya set the tone for another outstanding season on the very first day of the campaign.

Arsenal were handed a tough start away at Manchester United and found themselves under significant pressure for much of the match.

Riccardo Calafiori gave Arsenal an early lead and it was one they held on to for a 1-0 win, largely thanks to Raya.

Just before half-time, Matheus Cunha turned into space and from a tight angle hammered a low strike towards the far corner.

It looked destined for the far corner but Raya got down remarkably quickly and got just enough of a touch with the fingertips of his left hand to tip it past the post.

David Raya denies Kevin Schade

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Kevin Schade, December 3

Arsenal 2-0 Brentford

Arsenal had made a good start to their match at home to Brentford, taking the lead through Mikel Merino.

However, the momentum very nearly flipped 20 minutes in when the Bees came inches away from equalising.

An inswinging corner was delivered from the right and Kevin Schade rose highest six yards out, effectively unmarked.

He powered a header at goal and Raya showed remarkable reactions to spring up and at full stretch get a touch onto the bar.

"The slow-motion doesn't do it justice really - it's one of the saves of the season," Alan Smith said on co-commentary.

That stop kept Arsenal in front and they went on to win 2-0, moving five points clear at the top.

David Raya’s best save of the season?

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Arsenal 2-1 Brighton

Perhaps the pick of the bunch.

Arsenal went 2-0 up against Brighton but had that advantage halved and the Seagulls then piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser.

It was a crucial match, too, with City having earlier gone above Arsenal in the table to increase the significance of this result.

Brighton were well on top when at 2-1 when Yankuba Minteh ran onto the ball and curled a powerful strike towards the far corner,

Raya was at full-stretch as he somehow turned it over the bar. Minteh, who had jumped up and turned to celebrate, swivelled in disbelief and screamed towards the sky.

"That's a really, really important save to keep the score 2-1," Raya said.

"If that goes in it's 2-2 and maybe the game is completely different."

David Raya in the final minute of added time

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Alejandro Garnacho, March 1

Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea

It can sometimes be hard to put a tangible value on just how important a save is, but here was one that certainly earned Arsenal two points.

Raya had already made one sensational save, clawing away the ball from a corner when Declan Rice nearly turned into his own net.

In the third minute of stoppage-time, the Gunners led Chelsea 2-1 on yet another nervy night at the Emirates Stadium.

Ten-man Chelsea got numbers forward and Alejandro Garnacho clipped an in-swinging cross to the back post.

Gabriel and Joao Pedro threw themselves at it in front of Raya, neither got a touch, and the goalkeeper had to react at the last second to launch to his left and tip the ball beyond the post.

"It’s not a shot, but it ended up being an unbelievable shot," Arteta said. "My heart almost stopped, but David’s hand was there to bring it back to life.”

David Raya celebrates another huge win

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Arsenal 2-0 Everton

Max Dowman's night - but it might not have been without Raya's earlier intervention.

The 16-year-old came off the bench to seal a 2-0 victory for Arsenal and give the Emirates one of its most memorable moments.

However, it could have been a very different night had Raya not delivered just after half-time when it was still goalless.

The Spaniard came off his line to punch away a corner, but did not make great contact and it fell for Dwight McNeil.

His volley deflected into the path of Beto, who swivelled and hammered a strike towards the bottom corner from barely five yards out.

There was no time for Raya to get down. Instead, with his view slightly obstructed, he flung out a left boot to make a superb save.

David Raya made himself big with the scores still level

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Mateus Fernandes, May 10

West Ham 0-1 Arsenal

That brings us to Sunday and a potentially title-winning moment.

There might have been better saves this season from a technical perspective but none can match the significance of this one.

In the 79th minute at the London Stadium, with the match still goalless, Matheus Fernandes played a lovely one-two with Pablo.

The midfielder was one-on-one with Raya in the six-yard box. Had he scored and West Ham gone on to win, the title would no longer have been in Arsenal's hands.

Raya did not go down and kept himself as big as possible as Fernandes closed in. At the last second, as Fernandes went to shoot, Raya stretched out his right leg to make a massive save from point-blank range.

Five minutes later, Leandro Trossard scored the winner at the other end.

"David’s save, one against one, which is the story of the season again," Arteta said.

"When you talk about magic moments, this is certainly one of the most needed moments as well to pull off with that save. He was incredible.”