David Raya Shortlisted for Premier League Save of the Season

David Raya’s flying fingertip stop against Brighton & Hove Albion has earned him a place on the shortlist for the Premier League’s Save of the Season award.

The Arsenal goalkeeper, already this season’s Golden Glove winner, is being recognised for the decisive moment in December’s 2-1 victory over the Seagulls at the Emirates. With the game in the balance, Yankubah Minteh cut inside and bent a curling effort towards the top left corner. It looked perfect. It looked in.

Raya exploded to his right.

Launching himself across goal, he stretched out his right hand and, at full extension, managed to get the faintest of touches. The ball, destined for the angle of post and bar, was diverted away. The stadium roared; Brighton were denied; Arsenal held their ground.

That save took December’s Save of the Month award and pushed Raya alongside Andre Onana and Jordan Pickford at the top of the all-time leaderboard for that particular prize, with three monthly wins each. It was the kind of stop that defines a goalkeeper’s season, and now it stands among the campaign’s elite moments.

Shortlist for Save of the Season

The Premier League’s Save of the Season shortlist underlines the company he keeps. Raya’s effort goes up against stops from James Trafford, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Martin Dubravka, Jordan Pickford, Alphonse Areola, Aaron Ramsdale, Karl Darlow and Antonin Kinsky.

A single touch of the fingertips in December. Now, it could be the save that crowns his season.