David Raya has edged into the lead in the Premier League’s Golden Glove race, but he faces some obstacles if he’s going to win the award.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: David Raya of Arsenal celebrates after teammate Gabriel Martinelli scores his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on January 20, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: David Raya of Arsenal celebrates after teammate Gabriel Martinelli scores his team’s fourth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on January 20, 2024. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

After Arsenal’s 6-0 win over Sheffield United on Monday night, David Raya now leads Premier League goalkeepers for clean sheets, making him the frontrunner for the Golden Glove award.

Raya is up to nine clean sheets in the competition, one ahead of Jordan Pickford of Everton and Ederson of Manchester City, and two ahead of Alisson of Liverpool, Bernd Leno of Fulham, and Andre Onana of Manchester United.

But Raya has a tough task to win the award this season, particularly as he’ll be helpless to stop the chasing pack from gaining on him this weekend.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: David Raya of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium on October 28, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: David Raya of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium on October 28, 2023. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Raya is ineligible for Arsenal’s match against Brentford on Saturday due to the fact he’s on loan from the opposing side, whilst Pickford, Ederson, Leno, and Onana will all be in action.

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Alisson is the only other goalkeeper in the top five who won’t have a game, as he’s currently injured.

Raya also missed the reverse fixture against Brentford, and he didn’t play in Arsenal’s first four games of the season.

He hadn’t signed for the Gunners when they took on Nottingham Forest, and Aaron Ramsdale kept his place against Crystal Palace, Fulham, and Manchester United.

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND: Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal reacts during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Brentford and Arsenal at Gtech Community Stadium on September 27, 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND: Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal reacts during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Brentford and Arsenal at Gtech Community Stadium on September 27, 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Of the six frontrunners for the Golden Glove, Pickford has played 27 games, Ederson has played 26, Leno has played 27, Onana has played 27, whilst Raya has played just 22, and Alisson 21.

For the Arsenal goalkeeper to be leading the race in spite of having played so few matches says a lot about the strength of the Gunners’ defence this season. It’s a big positive that Raya is fitting in so well with his new club.

Arsenal still have a lot of tough games to come, most notably the trip to the Etihad to face Manchester City. It’s not going to be an easy task to keep ahead of the competition.

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