David Raya snubbed from England’s top 3 goalkeepers despite Golden Glove success

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David Raya has secured back-to-back Golden Glove awards and remains on course to claim a third consecutive honour by the end of the current campaign, yet he has been overlooked in a recent ranking of England’s best goalkeepers.

Despite his consistent performances for Arsenal, former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley has not included the Spaniard among his top three choices. According to Goal, Crossley instead named Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alisson Becker, and Jordan Pickford as his preferred selections.

Crossley’s controversial picks

The former goalkeeper explained his reasoning, placing Paris Saint-Germain’s Donnarumma at the top of his list.

“My favourite is Gianluigi Donnarumma and I’ve been saying it for ages from his Champions League exploits last year,” Crossley said.

He praised Liverpool’s Alisson as his second choice, describing both keepers as filling “the goal” and remaining calm under pressure. Crossley’s third selection, England’s Jordan Pickford, earned his spot primarily due to his distribution abilities.

“I’ve gone with one of our own, Jordan Pickford, as number three simply because I love his distribution. He’s left footed, I was left footed, so I kind of like the left footed goalkeeper a lot,” Crossley explained.

Raya’s Arsenal impact

The omission may surprise many Arsenal supporters given Raya’s instrumental role in the Gunners’ recent success. His shot-stopping ability and composure have been crucial as the north London side continues to compete at the highest level across multiple competitions.

The Spanish goalkeeper has provided remarkable stability between the posts, contributing significantly to Arsenal’s impressive defensive record. His performances have drawn praise from various quarters, with some observers previously calling him the best goalkeeper in the world.

Raya’s consistency has been particularly valuable during key moments in Arsenal’s pursuit of major honours. The 28-year-old has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most reliable shot-stoppers since his permanent move from Brentford.

As the season progresses, Raya will be focusing on maintaining his exceptional form and securing another Golden Glove award. Such an achievement would further underline his importance to Mikel Arteta’s squad and strengthen his case among England’s elite goalkeepers, regardless of external rankings.