David Raya Names His One Save That Won Arsenal the Premier League

David Raya has spoken on his iconic save at West Ham United during the title run-in, on a recent appearance on the Beyond The Box podcast. 

Arsenal travelled to West Ham United’s London Stadium in May 2026, with the Premier League title race in the balance. Manchester City had beaten Brentford the day before Arsenal travelled across London, reducing the gap at the top of the Premier League table to just two points. The pressure was firmly on Mikel Arteta’s side to gain all three points and regain their five-point lead at the summit, despite Manchester City boasting an additional game in hand over the Gunners.

Arsenal started the match well, but West Ham did grow into the contest after their former star Declan Rice was forced to right-back, as Ben White was substituted off with an injury. The Irons were equally as desperate to leave with points to show for their efforts, in a bid to remain in the top flight for another campaign.

The away fans in the stadium and the Arsenal fans around the world were becoming extremely restless as the match remained at a stalemate. Though the 70th minute of the game will live long in the memory of every Arsenal fan worldwide. Matheus Fernandes, now of Tottenham Hotspur, found himself free in the Arsenal box after some quick feet and was one-on-one with Raya, who pulled off an incredible close-range save to keep the score level.

Less than 15 minutes later, Arsenal scored a dramatic winner courtesy of Leandro Trossard, who left the club to join Turkish side Beşiktaş last summer. The drama did not stop there though, and late VAR controversy saw West Ham denied a dramatic 95th minute equaliser due to a foul on David Raya, after Callum Wilson thought he had scored from a late corner. 

Reflecting on the save, Raya explained, 'I think that save gave us the Premier League. It's just one of those where in the moment you don't think it is important, but when you see it in perspective.'

The Spaniard believed that Arsenal would have struggled to lift their first title in 22-years without his contribution in the moment, 'If we drop points there, I think we are done. I think the season is too close to finishing to make back those points. It is a decisive moment where we had to win that game, which we did.'

Arsenal eventually won the Premier League by seven points, so on paper the victory over West Ham was not the difference between winning and losing the title. However, it is thought that the confidence it gave the squad during the run-in was invaluable, and it would have deflated a hopeful Manchester City side still hoping to close the gap.