David Raya has hinted that an unusual Arsenal player helped the on-loan Brentford goalkeeper win the Golden Glove award and a spot in the Premier League’s history.

The 28-year-old has secured the gong for the first time in his career during his first season in north London. Arsenal hired Raya in an initial loan transfer with an option to buy in August. Mikel Arteta also decided the Spaniard was his No1 after the September international break.

Raya ousted Aaron Ramsdale to start between the sticks at Emirates Stadium after just three games on the bench. He has since started in all 31 available Premier League matches. Arteta recalled Ramsdale for just Arsenal’s two games against Brentford with Raya ineligible to play.

David Raya hints Kai Havertz helped him win the Golden Glove at Arsenal

Arteta further favoured Raya for nine of Arsenal’s 10 Champions League ties. Ramsdale only played in their dead-rubber draw at PSV Eindhoven in the Gunners’ final Group B tie. Arteta further allowed Ramsdale outings in Arsenal’s sole FA Cup and two Carabao Cup meetings.

Raya earned Arteta’s unyielding faith as the Gunners boss admires the four-cap Spain star’s ability on the ball. But the Palleja native has also kept 16 clean sheets across his 31 top-flight appearances. Manchester City’s Ederson and Everton’s Jordan Pickford rank second with 13.

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The Golden Glove award may be an individual title but Raya believes his Arsenal teammates helped him get the gong. He especially sought to outline how defending starts in the attack, hinting at the intensive pressing that Kai Havertz provides Arsenal when he plays as a striker.

Raya told the Arsenal website: “Clean sheets are a weird one because obviously goalkeepers get the praise but it’s a collective thing. I’ve always said we start defending from the striker and end up with me, the goalie.

“But I think everybody has their targets, and that’s the biggest thing that could happen to a keeper. For me, it’s a collective thing. But the trophy is for the goalie, so one of the nicest things you can have.

“It’s just incredible to leave your name there for the rest of the history of the Premier League. It’s something special that I’ll never forget.”

Kai Havertz has helped Arsenal score goals and defend from the front

Raya would not be the first to acknowledge that Havertz’s pressing has played a main role in Arsenal’s defensive record. Jamie Carragher also praised Havertz recently for helping Arteta build one of the best defences in Europe. The Gunners have the best Premier League record.

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Arsenal have only conceded 28 times through 37 games, with Raya conceding 23 over his 31 outings. Havertz has featured in 36 of Arsenal’s fixtures, as well, with 12 coming as a centre-forward. The Gunners have shipped just five goals in Havertz’s 12 appearances as the striker.

Just Liverpool (1), Newcastle United (1), Brentford (1) and Tottenham Hotspur (2) have so far scored if Havertz has played as a centre-forward for Arsenal. The 24-year-old has also hit seven goals and assisted another seven in those 12 games, which yielded eight clean sheets.