David Raya has provided a positive update on the back injury he appeared to sustain during the closing stages of Arsenal’s win over Burnley last night.
Kai Havertz’s first half header was enough to see the Gunners record a 1-0 win that moved them to within three points of guaranteeing their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Though his goal was hardly troubled, the precarious nature of the scoreline resulted in a tense and nervous finale that eventually ended in Raya’s 19th clean sheet of an increasingly outstanding personal campaign.
There was one brief scare in the closing stages, however, when the Spain international was decked by Zian Flemming as he attempted to claim a cross at the far post.
Get ready for the World Cup
Get previews of every single team at the World Cup sent directly to your inbox, featuring the players to look out for, games you shouldn’t miss and Metro’s big England predictions. Don’t miss out, sign up here.
Raya appeared to be in agony as he clutched the lower part of his back and the game stopped for several minutes while the Gunners’ No.1 received treatment.
Arsenal are back in action against Crystal Palace on Sunday where they could well require one more win in order to fend off Manchester City’s challenge and can ill-afford to be without one of their most important players.
Asked about the severity of the injury, Raya told Premier League Productions: ‘Yeah, I had a dead back, a dead glute and a dead shoulder but I’ll be fine. Ice bath, I’m going straight away to the ice bath.’
Raya had, meanwhile, already won a third successive Golden Glove award but last night’s shutout represented a 19th clean sheet of the season which saw him equal a club-record held by David Seaman.
‘I am very proud of the collective way that we are playing and of course very, very proud of myself,’ said Raya.
‘I’m trying to help the team as much as possible but without these players I couldn’t do it by myself.
‘From the start of the season we has that toughness defensively that willingness to not concede that many chances and that many goals.
‘Credit to everyone the way we defend, the way we work to keep those clean sheets. There are so many games that are won by only one goal so if you keep that clean sheet it is easier to win games.
‘We know how important it is in those moments where we dominate and I don’t have much to do but that concentration for 100 minutes to be focused to help the team when I’m needed.
‘I think that was a big difference from last year and the year before to this year by myself where I had to step up and I think I did.’