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Patrick Vieira's selection for Arsenal's player of the season says a lot about how Mikel Arteta's men have closed in on the Premier League title this term. The club legend thinks David Raya has stood out, and by some margin.
The Gunners have enjoyed a superb season, even if their form tailed off a little going into the spring, and a double-winning campaign could be on the horizon, with a Champions League final with PSG still to come, assuming Arsenal do get the title wrapped up.
A team does not achieve this kind of success without impressive consistency, and there is no doubting that Arsenal have shown that across the board. The back line has been particularly impressive, and the usual characters like Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have also been in solid form.
Patrick Vieira backs David Raya
Summer signings Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres will also get big shout outs when all is said, and done, but according to Vieira , no one has even come close to goalkeeper Raya, who has won the Premier League Golden Glove award, awarded to the keeper with the most clean sheets.
“David Raya, for me, has to be the Player of the Season,” Vieira told Sky Sports. “I think he was outstanding from the first game until the end of the season, I think he was really impressive.
“He made some really important saves, he won points for Arsenal. For me, I don’t see any other players who were quite outstanding. We’re always going for those forward or creative players, why not a defender, and why not a goalkeeper? I think David, for me, will have my vote.”
The selection is warranted, without doubt. Raya has saved Arsenal in so many big moments this season, and in terms of consistency, it's hard to pick out anyone else above him.
Although, fans may have a hard time believing that no other player has been outstanding, as Vieira mentioned. Rice and Zubimendi have been superb in the middle of the park, and both Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have played monumental roles in the number of clean sheets Raya has managed.
It's only fair that they are recognised, even if Raya is the standout player as far as awards go. And the biggest reward of all this season will surely be Raya starting at the World Cup after years of patiently waiting behind the usual number one, Unai Simon, although the decision is still not obvious for Luis de la Fuente.
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