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 secure a 1-0 victory, moving the Gunners within three points of their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Despite the narrow scoreline, Raya recorded his 19th clean sheet of an outstanding personal campaign. However, a brief scare occurred when he was knocked down by Zian Flemming while attempting to claim a cross at the far post. Raya clutched his lower back in apparent pain, causing a several-minute stoppage for treatment.
Arsenal faces Crystal Palace on Sunday, where another win could secure the title. Raya's fitness is crucial, and he downplayed the injury: '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 has already won a third consecutive Golden Glove award, and his 19th clean sheet equals a club record held by David Seaman. 'I am very proud of the collective way we are playing and of course very, very proud of myself,' he said. 'I'm trying to help the team as much as possible but without these players I couldn't do it by myself.'
He added: 'From the start of the season we had that toughness defensively, that willingness to not concede many chances and goals. Credit to everyone for the way we defend and work to keep clean sheets. There are so many games won by only one goal, so keeping a clean sheet makes it easier to win. It's about concentration for 100 minutes to be focused when needed. That was a big difference from last year and the year before.'
