Only Thierry Henry achieved what David Raya just did while playing for Arsenal

All Arsenal fans agree that David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world. The Spaniard has been instrumental to the Gunners' success since first joining from Brentford in 2023. As an Arsenal player, he has never failed to collect the Premier League Golden Glove, very much on course to pick up a fourth in a row, something no one has ever achieved before.

A fortnight ago, Raya was overlooked at the Ballon d'Or ceremony, with his compatriot Unai Simón picking up the Trophée Yachine, despite a less than stellar season at Athletic Club.

Now though, Raya has, belatedly, got the recognition he deserves, named in the FIFPRO World 11 that was released on Monday.

David Raya (Arsenal and Spain).

Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco).

Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona and Spain).

Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal).

Rodri (Manchester City/Barcelona and Spain).

Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal).

Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid and England).

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami and Argentina).

Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid and France).

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona and Spain).

Erling Braut Håland (Manchester City and Norway).

Were this team, featuring four forwards, to play an actual match, Raya would certainly be busy wouldn't he? Even two of the three defenders, PSG duo Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, are ultra-attacking, albeit the front four would not be bad would they?

Despite not playing a single minute as Spain won the World Cup this summer, Raya is fully deserving of his spot in the lineup. Last season, across 51 appearances, he conceded just 31 goals and racked up a whopping 28 clean sheets as Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years, as well as reaching a first Champions League Final in two decades.

He kept three more shutouts than any other goalkeeper in the Champions League, as well as four more than second-placed Gianluigi Donnarumma in the Premier League. To commence this current campaign, Raya has already racked up ten clean sheets in just 15 appearances.

So, how rare is it for an Arsenal player to be named in the FIFPRO World 11? Well, since the first in 2005, this is only the second time.

Back in 2006, Thierry Henry was included in the XI, completing a forward line that featured Kaká, Zinédine Zidane, Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho. That season, Henry scored 33 goals in all competitions, becoming Arsenal's all-time record goal-scorer, firing Arsène Wenger's team to their first-ever Champions League Final. He also scored three goals as France reached the World Cup Final, on target against Korea Republic, Togo and then Brazil in the quarter-finals en route to Berlin.

Thus, for Raya to make the cut, despite his summer of inactivity across the state, underlines just how formidable a club campaign he put together.