Arsenal's Premier League aspirations have been dealt a potential blow with the injury of their star goalkeeper, David Raya. The reigning Premier League Golden Glove winner suffered a thigh injury during the match against Manchester City but managed to complete the game. As a result, his availability for the upcoming match against Leicester City is uncertain.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta provided an update on Raya's condition ahead of the Leicester City match. Arteta stated, 'We have to wait 24 hours to see if he's looking good or not that good. It's not about taking a risk, it's about a player being fit and available or not. When we have that clarity for Leicester, which is the main thing that we are thinking about at the moment, we will make a decision tomorrow.'
If Raya is not available, backup goalkeeper Neto is likely to make his debut for Arsenal. Neto, a 35-year-old goalkeeper signed on loan from Bournemouth, has been unable to make his debut in the Carabao Cup due to appearing for his parent club earlier in the competition. Instead, 16-year-old Jack Porter took the goalkeeping duties in the Carabao Cup match against Bolton.
Neto's potential debut would mark Arsenal's third consecutive game with a different goalkeeper in net. Arteta's decision to wait for Raya's full recovery underscores the importance of having a reliable goalkeeper, especially given Arsenal's title aspirations.
Other key players like Ben White and Mikel Merino are also facing fitness concerns. Ben White participated in Friday's training session, which bodes well for his chances of starting at left-back against Leicester City. However, Mikel Merino picked up a shoulder injury in his first training session at the club and is expected to return to full fitness by next week.
Takehiro Tomiyasu continues to recover from a knee injury and has been making progress in partial training sessions. Arteta's cautious approach to player injuries highlights the team's commitment to ensuring each player is fully fit before taking the field.
David Raya's injury has significant implications for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers who have invested in him. With Raya being one of the highest-scoring goalkeepers in the game and owned by 31.8% of players, his absence could lead to a scramble for replacements. Neto, Robert Sanchez from Chelsea, and Mark Flekken from Brentford are potential alternatives for FPL managers looking to fill the gap left by Raya's injury.
Despite the injury concerns, David Raya has been flourishing at Arsenal since his arrival from Brentford. He has conceded just 0.76 goals per game in the Premier League, a record unmatched by any other goalkeeper with over 30 appearances in the same timeframe. His impressive form has earned him the Premier League Golden Glove award and solidified his position as one of the top goalkeepers in Europe.
Raya's journey to becoming one of the world's best goalkeepers began in England with Blackburn Rovers. He made his professional breakthrough as part of the team that was promoted from League One in 2018. His subsequent move to Brentford saw him win the Championship Golden Glove award in 2019/20 and help the Bees secure promotion to the Premier League in 2021.
Internationally, Raya has represented Spain since making his debut in 2022. He was part of the squads for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2024, which Spain won. His permanent transfer to Arsenal this summer has further cemented his status as a top-tier goalkeeper.
