Champions League Final PSG vs Arsenal: David Raya wins Golden Glove award.

Arsenal challenge defending champions PSG in this weekend's Champions League final, bolstered by the strength of "Golden Glove" winner David Raya.

Arsenal and Raya, the "Golden Glove" winner.

David Raya won the Premier League Golden Glove award for the third consecutive time, and also won the championship with Arsenal .

With a record of 19 clean sheets and the fewest goals conceded (27), he has two more milestones to complete a historic season, no matter what happens, including the Champions League final against PSG on May 30th, and participating in the 2026 World Cup with the Spanish national team.

"We are now focusing all our attention on the final, because the Premier League objective has been achieved," Raya emphasized.

Raya with the Premier League title. Photo: PL

The 2025/26 season will be a relief for Raya's Arsenal. The Gunners will end a 22-year drought without winning the top English football title, after three consecutive seasons of "almost" winning.

For three years, Arsenal watched the trophy slip through their fingers, feeling helpless as Man City and Liverpool lifted the trophy. This season, with the pressure building to an unbearable level, Arsenal finally reached the pinnacle of glory.

“I am extremely happy. It makes me very proud of this team, this club, the coaching staff and especially the fans,” Raya said as he prepared for the Champions League final.

Raya has never played for a professional club in his hometown. Initially, he was an amateur goalkeeper, combining his career with futsal. Later, he joined the academy of UE Cornella – a neighboring club to Barca that Lionel Messi recently acquired.

Not a goalkeeper who rose to fame early (never having played for the Spanish youth team), Raya's path to success has been a roundabout one. There was no prodigy aura, no teen magazine covers.

Blackburn Rovers discovered Raya and brought him to England. The Barcelona goalkeeper rose through the ranks through patience, from quiet seasons in England, by learning to tolerate the mistakes of the profession.

Therefore, when asked about his third consecutive "Golden Glove" award, he refused to take credit for himself: "I'm in a very good phase. But the number of clean sheets is the result of a collective effort."

Arsenal relieved the pressure after winning the Premier League title. Photo: PL

In addition to 19 clean sheets in the Premier League , he also kept nine clean sheets in the Champions League, along with 34 saves to help Arsenal remain unbeaten as they reached the final. According to him, the key was the team's collective effort to "not give the opponent too many chances."

Confident before the final

For many years, Arsenal have been labeled as pragmatic defenders, simply because they know how to control risk. Raya isn't too bothered by that.

“We know that good defending and keeping clean sheets will help the team win. But Arsenal are also a very attacking team,” Raya countered.

Latest Champions League Final 2025/26 fixtures

That's the kind of football that bears Mikel Arteta's distinctive mark, with a system built on an obsession with detail, intense pressing, positional discipline, and an absolute belief that Arsenal can return to the top.

Raya sees that every day. “The way Arteta took over the club when it wasn’t at its best, and then brought Arsenal back to the top, shows his ability and his character. He never gives up.”

It's easy to understand why Arsenal currently has such a Spanish feel to it. It's not just because of Arteta or Raya, but because the dressing room embodies an Iberian football mentality – control, calmness, and a belief that the game can be decided by intellect before emotion.

Interestingly, Arsenal entered the Champions League final facing Luis Enrique – another Spaniard who had previously given Raya her national team debut.

“I really admire him. Everyone knows Luis Enrique is a great coach and also a great person,” Raya said respectfully. Enrique is one of the biggest influences on him.

Raya was the best goalkeeper of the season in England. Photo: Squawka

In top-level football, especially in the Champions League final, beautiful relationships sometimes have to be put on hold before the match ends.

Luis Enrique is renowned for his ability to adapt his tactics to each opponent. Raya understands this better than anyone. He knew PSG would prepare very carefully for Arsenal, and even the defending champions' goalkeepers had already studied how to defend against Arsenal's corner kicks.

"We know we're very strong in set pieces and we hope to be able to score from dead ball in the final," Raya said with a smile.

Raya's composure reflects Arsenal's current state. The Gunners are no longer a team living in fear of failure. The Premier League title has lifted the biggest pressure. Now, the Champions League is no longer a burden, but a reward.

"We are focusing all our attention on the final. The team plays to enjoy matches like this."

For David Raya, this could be the summer that completely changes his standing in world football. The Champions League and the World Cup are calling, along with the competition for the number one goalkeeper position with Unai Simon.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/chung-ket-cup-c1-psg-vs-arsenal-gang-tay-vang-david-raya-2519451.html