Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya overlooked for Player of the Year awards
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has secured a third consecutive Premier League Golden Glove award but remains conspicuously absent from the bookmakers’ lists for the main end-of-season accolades.
The Spanish shot-stopper has been exceptional throughout the current campaign, keeping clean sheets in 26 of his 48 appearances across all competitions.
He has also conceded just four goals in 13 Champions League matches, helping his side advance to the final of Europe’s elite club competition.
Despite these remarkable underlying statistics, goalkeepers historically struggle to secure major individual recognition in English football.
A history of overlooked goalkeepers
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has only crowned a goalkeeper twice in its entire history.
Pat Jennings claimed the prestigious prize in 1976 while playing for Tottenham, before Peter Shilton took the accolade after conceding just 18 goals for a title-winning Nottingham Forest side.
The Football Writers’ Association (FWA) has been marginally more generous over its 77-year existence, crowning four custodians.
However, Neville Southall was the last man between the sticks to achieve the feat back in 1985.
Outperforming the outfield favourites
Current odds for the upcoming PFA award are dominated by outfield stars, with Bruno Fernandes emerging as the bookmakers’ favourite.
The Portuguese playmaker boasts an eye-catching assist record this term, but he has ultimately failed to lead his team to silverware.
Declan Rice and Erling Haaland are also heavily backed by oddsmakers for the seasonal crown.
While the Norwegian striker has amassed 36 goals for Manchester City, he endured a noticeable barren spell of three goals in 13 league outings.
Meanwhile, the Arsenal midfield engine has been hugely influential, yet his raw goal contributions pale in comparison to other main contenders.
The case for the Golden Glove winner
Other names on the speculative five-man shortlist include Bernardo Silva and Rayan Cherki.
The Manchester City veteran has delivered consistent performances at the Etihad, while the maverick Frenchman took considerable time to settle into his rhythm.
Every outfield candidate possesses notable flaws or caveats in their case for the ultimate individual prize.
In stark contrast, the Gunners’ number one has been virtually flawless during their pursuit of both domestic and European glory.
If he maintains his supreme reliability during the decisive title run-in, his exclusion from the final awards conversation will become impossible to justify.