Patrick Vieira believes Arsenal’s David Raya should be named the Premier League’s Player of the Season, with the goalkeeper receiving the Golden Glove on Monday night.
Amid plenty of debate about the potential Premier League Player of the Season winner, Patrick Vieira has put David Raya’s name forward as his favoured option.
“David Raya, for me, has to be the Player of the Season,” Vieira told Sky Sports. “I think he was outstanding from the first game until the end of the season, I think he was really impressive.
“He made some really important saves, he won points for Arsenal. For me, I don’t see any other players who were quite outstanding.
“We’re always going for those forward or creative players, why not a defender, and why not a goalkeeper? I think David, for me, will have my vote.”
Raya received his Golden Glove award on Monday night, having already guaranteed at least a share of the award on May 4th. The goalkeeper has since kept further clean sheets, reaching 19 in the league with his shutout against Burnley.
The 30-year-old has now equalled Arsenal’s best-ever tally for clean sheets in a Premier League season, set by David Seaman in 1993/94 and 1998/99.
One more clean sheet on Sunday would see the Spaniard breaking that record and setting a new one.
Whether Raya keeps another clean sheet or not, Arsenal are a long way ahead of any of their competitors on that front.
The Gunners have kept 32 clean sheets in all competitions this season (28 for Raya, four for Kepa), and OptaJoe reports that that’s six more than any other side in Europe’s big-five leagues.
It’s been a good season, and two more clean sheets would ensure it becomes a great one.
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