Latest news with #DavidRaya
The Sun
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Finding the perfect Dream Team goalkeeper for 2025/26: Premium stars and bargain options
EVERY competitive Dream Team needs a reliable figure between the sticks. In hope of helping you select a goalkeeper for the 2025/26 season, we've analysed the position in detail to single out the premium stars and bargain options. Premium Stars We have to start with David Raya (£4.5m). Arsenal's No1 earned more points than any other player in his position last season. The Spaniard kept 19 clean sheets in all competitions on his way to 259 points and ranked joint-seventh for saves too. The Gunners have been solid at the back for three successive years and there's seemingly no reason to expect anything different this coming season. Raya is the joint-most expensive keeper alongside Alisson (£4.5m), who is expected to continue as first choice despite the arrival of Georgia international Giorgi Mamardashvili (£3.5m). The Brazilian is one of the more injury-prone keepers but he rarely disappoints when available. 4 Dean Henderson (£3.5m) deserves a mention in this top category. Crystal Palace's last line of defence ended up claiming the bronze medal last season with a total of exactly 200 points. Only the aforementioned Raya kept more clean sheets in all competitions with just four rivals above him in the save count. Henderson, good value at £3.5m, benefited from the Eagles' triumphant FA Cup run and he could capitalise on additional Conference League fixtures in 2025/26 (appeal pending). Bargain Options James Trafford (£3.5m) is a very, very interesting option. His starting price appears on the high side for a newly-promoted asset given the punishment dished out to Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton last term. But he would suddenly look very affordable upon a transfer back to Manchester City, as rumoured. Burnley rewrote history last season when they conceded just 16 in 46 Championship games and Trafford was a key contributor to that immense record. Touted as a future England No1, watch the 22-year-old's ownership go through the roof if he puts pen to paper at the Etihad. 4 Another tempting option in the £3.5m bracket is Matz Sels. Nottingham Forest performed well above expectations last season and their superbly consistent keeper was a big reason for their success. 2025/26 will bring extra fixtures in the form of Europa League commitments (as things stand). If Nuno Espirito Santo's side keep punching above their weight then the Belgian stopper has a chance of making 200 points - he banked 190 last time around from almost exclusively league appearances. Sels shared the Golden Glove with Raya in 2024/25. Jordan Pickford (£3.5m) has been a consistent performer in recent years; only Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea conceded fewer league goals than Everton last season. 4 Caoimhin Kelleher is available for just £3m following his move from Liverpool to Brentford. The Irishman performed well whenever he was required to deputise for Alisson and became something of a Dream Team cheat code between October and December when he enjoyed a sustained run in the team. Naturally, clean sheets will be harder to come by at the Gtech and the Bees do not have European commitments to bolster their schedule but Kelleher is a potential set-and-forget at a reasonable price. His predecessor, Mark Flekken, made more saves than any other keeper last season.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
‘I've seen enough' – Arsenal fans demand Kepa replaces David Raya after early defensive howler in Newcastle clash
ARSENAL fans demanded Kepa Arrizabalaga replace David Raya after a defensive howler against Newcastle. The Premier League rivals met in Singapore in a pre-season friendly. 4 4 And Arsenal were 1-0 down after just six minutes when Anthony Elanga - signed from Nottingham Forest - opened the scoring. A cross came into the box and the Swedish international appeared to accidentally kick the ball with his right foot onto his left boot. But the diverted strike threw keeper Raya off and put Newcastle into the lead. Despite Elanga's miskick sending Raya the wrong way - some Gunners fans online fumed with the Spaniard. One said: "I've seen enough. Get Kepa on." One fumed: "No one marking Elanga and what was Raya doing there." Another said: "Sub Kepa on, Raya is A**E." 4 CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Arsenal signed Kepa from Chelsea in a £5million move earlier in the summer. And the 30-year-old - the world's most expensive goalkeeper at £71.6m - became an instant hit among Gooners. Arsenal beat AC Milan 1-0 in a friendly and the two clubs played a penalty shootout afterwards. The Gunners lost but Kepa saved three penalties to the amazement of fans. 4
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
David Raya praises 15yo Arsenal duo Dowman & Salmon
David Raya has praised 15-year-old duo Marli Salmon and Max Dowman, after the pair made their pre-season debuts for the Arsenal first team this week. Photo via Dowman on Instagram Arsenal youth duo Marli Salmon and Max Dowman made their unofficial debuts for Mikel Arteta's first team in Wednesday's friendly match against AC Milan, coming off the bench to help the team see out a 1-0 win. Speaking in the days after that game, David Raya admitted he's been impressed with the youngsters on tour so far. 'I think the young lads (stood out to me),' Raya said. 'Obviously Marli [Salmon] and Max [Dowman], they're just 15 years old and they look like they've been with us for so many years. 'Such a young age to play with Arsenal, and to come on tour with the first team of Arsenal is incredible. So those two have been magnificent.' Photo via Despite being easily the youngest players on the pitch, Salmon and Dowman rarely looked it. The two were composed in possession, and Salmon showed his abilities off the ball up against some tough opponents. Arteta likely won't hesitate to give the pair further chances as pre-season progresses, particularly with Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber still not available for selection. Salmon will be needed to make up the numbers, if nothing else. Then with Noni Madueke not joining pre-season until Arsenal return from Asia, Dowman will be a useful option as an alternative to Bukayo Saka on the right. Photo via Premier League on Instagram The one other young player who was involved against AC Milan was Josh Nichols, coming on at right-back to replace Ben White. Nichols' situation isn't quite the same as the other two, as he's 19 years old (as of Saturday) and he already made his competitive debut for Arsenal last season. But the defender was still very impressive in his limited minutes against Milan, and he deserves credit for that after a while out injured. Nichols pointed out on Instagram that he'd had a four-month wait since his previous Arsenal appearance, but those watching all agreed he didn't look rusty.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'No assurances given about number one spot'
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has revealed that Mikel Arteta has not given him "any assurances" about remaining his first choice goalkeeper. The 29-year-old has been first choice for Arsenal since signing for the club, taking over from Aaron Ramsdale. However, Arsenal signed Kepa Arrizabalaga this summer and the former Chelsea and Bournemouth goalkeeper saved three penalties in a shoot-out in their pre-season opener against AC Milan. And Raya says that Arteta has not given him any guarantees about his starting place following Arrizabalaga's £5m signing. "[He has said] Nothing - he just came as a new team-mate and to add another goalie to the group," Raya told BBC Sport. "The manager hasn't said anything, so we will see what happens." Raya and Arrizabalaga know each other well as the pair both represent Spain. Arrizabalaga became the most expensive goalkeeper in the world after joining Chelsea for £71m in 2018, but Raya does not think the arrival of another high-profile shot-stopper at Arsenal will add more pressure on him. "No I think it is just a healthy relationship," Raya said. "We are friends. We have been together in the national team and now we are here, so we have that healthy relationship and, let's say, 'healthy partnership' in goal. "We know how tough it is to be a goalkeeper. There is only one goalkeeper playing and we will see what happens. That is the job of the boss and he will decide."
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'No assurances given about number one spot'
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has revealed that Mikel Arteta has not given him "any assurances" about remaining his first choice goalkeeper. The 29-year-old has been first choice for Arsenal since signing for the club, taking over from Aaron Ramsdale. However, Arsenal signed Kepa Arrizabalaga this summer and the former Chelsea and Bournemouth goalkeeper saved three penalties in a shoot-out in their pre-season opener against AC Raya says that Arteta has not given him any guarantees about his starting place following Arrizabalaga's £5m signing."[He has said] Nothing - he just came as a new team-mate and to add another goalie to the group," Raya told BBC Sport. "The manager hasn't said anything, so we will see what happens."Raya and Arrizabalaga know each other well as the pair both represent became the most expensive goalkeeper in the world after joining Chelsea for £71m in 2018, but Raya does not think the arrival of another high-profile shot-stopper at Arsenal will add more pressure on him. "No I think it is just a healthy relationship," Raya said. "We are friends. We have been together in the national team and now we are here, so we have that healthy relationship and, let's say, 'healthy partnership' in goal. "We know how tough it is to be a goalkeeper. There is only one goalkeeper playing and we will see what happens. That is the job of the boss and he will decide."
