Raya has kept the most clean sheets of any goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues, with his 22 across all competitions four clear of Inter’s Yann Sommer.

The former Brentford goalkeeper has become a big presence at Arsenal and is part of the team’s leadership group.

He made a vital save to deny Maxi Araujo early on in Tuesday’s match, tipping a thumping strike on to the crossbar before making three saves late on to keep the tie level before Havertz’s winner.

“It’s something that I’m there for. I’m trying to help the team as much as possible in any single action, not just defending but commanding and on the ball,” Raya told Amazon Prime.

The clean sheet was Raya and Arsenal‘s seventh in the Champions League this season – the most of any goalkeeper and any side in the competition.

“That’s something we’ve worked on a lot. It’s so important for us, those clean sheets make it easier to win games. It showed tonight, scoring in the last minute and keeping that clean sheet decides those type of games,” Raya said.

The goalkeeper’s acrobatic saves are not the only impressive aspect of his game.

Raya is given a lot of responsibility with the ball at his feet and his passing range and decision-making make Arsenal a better attacking side.

“That’s the evolution of the game,” Arteta said. “The keeper in the last few years has changed and evolved rapidly, and the amount of things that we ask him to do, it’s a lot.

“But many positions have very similar situations and demands right now, and the players have to adapt to that.

“Apart from the qualities of David, the courage, the will to do certain things, that’s when you can reach another level.”

But the Gunners boss would not be drawn on if he thought that Raya was the best goalkeeper in the world.

“He’s extraordinary, magnificent, incredible,” Arteta said. “I don’t know the right adjective. We are so happy to have him.”

Raya has 15 clean sheets in 31 Premier League matches this season, the most in the division.

He shared the Golden Glove trophy with Nottingham Forest‘s Matz Sels in 2024-25 – but Arsenal will hope that if Raya lifts that personal accolade again, it will mean they have secured silverware as a team too.

Rain had the last laugh in the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings IPL 2026 match in Kolkata on Monday. KKR had gone two down, losing the wickets of Finn Allen and Cameron Green, when rain forced the match to be stopped at around 7:50 pm. The match never resumed and was eventually called off at 11 pm. Kolkata Knight Riders bagged their first point of the season courtesy of the no-result. After the shared points, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer‘s sister Shresta, who is a professional dancer and choreographer, put up a hilarious post. In the video, she said, “Saade Punjabiyan da dil vadda hunda ae. Lo, ditta ek point. (We Punjabis are big-hearted. So, we gave you a point).”

When the initial spell of rain fell on Eden Gardens, KKR were struggling at 25 for 2 in 3.4 overs. The proceedings never restarted despite the cut-off time being pushed to 11.14 pm.

PBKS too received a point and moved atop the table for the time being with five points from three games. The Kolkatans now have one point from three matches, ahead of Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings, who are yet to open their account.

Incidentally, the fixture between KKR and PBKS here during IPL 2025 was also called off due to rain.

KKR have a third consecutive home match, facing Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday, but rain is predicted on that day as well.

Cutting back to the day’s match, rain and strong winds lashed the venue from 9 pm, gradually turning into a thunderstorm.

The wind was so intense that the unique ‘hanging’ Eden press box, supported by iron beams, shook under the gale force, resembling an earthquake.

The drizzle finally subsided around 10:30 pm, prompting the ground staff to spring into action and remove the covers.

The pitch and outfield appeared largely intact with no significant seepage, although a few puddles had formed near the boundary lines due to water runoff from the covers after they were peeled off.

An inspection followed, with on-field umpires Abhijeet Bengeri and J. Madanagopal assessing conditions.

Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly also checked the firmness of the ground, and after a lengthy discussion with KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane and his Punjab counterpart Shreyas Iyer, the match was called off at 11 pm.

On a day when KKR were without both their frontline spinners – an unwell Sunil Narine and an injured Varun Chakravarthy – their decision to bat first seemed to have backfired spectacularly.

Punjab Kings’ Aussie speedster Xavier Bartlett struck twice in three balls in a fiery second over, removing both star overseas batters – Finn Allen (6) and Cameron Green (4).

Pacer Arshdeep Singh set the tone in the opening over. Allen looked tentative against the left-armer, edging and missing more than once, before Bartlett finished the job in the next over with a fine display of swing and seam.

Allen survived a couple of close shaves – beaten on the edge and nearly undone by a yorker that he somehow dug out for four – but his luck soon ran out.

Attempting an inside-out drive to a length ball outside off, he could only manage a faint nick.

Promoted to No. 3 ahead of Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Green, the highest-paid overseas player at Rs 25.20 crore, continued his miserable run, having earlier managed scores of 18 (against Mumbai Indians) and 2 (against Sunrisers Hyderabad). Bartlett struck again with a similar back-of-a-length delivery in the channel, swinging away and inducing another loose poke.

With Bartlett breathing fire and KKR firmly on the back foot, Rahane and Raghuvanshi began to rebuild before steady drizzle halted the proceedings at 7:45 pm.

With Eden Gardens equipped with full ground covers, the ground staff swiftly covered the entire field.

There was a brief respite as the covers began to come off, but rain returned, leaving spectators frustrated as many started leaving.

All this unfolded in front of Bollywood superstar and KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, who made his first appearance of the season at the venue, only to witness a rain-hit evening.

The match also witnessed a relatively sparse turnout, with 29,358 spectators in attendance.

Featured Video Of The Day

Delhi vs Mumbai IPL 2026: Fans Flood Arun Jaitley Stadium for High-Voltage Clash

Chennai Super Kings are currently last in the 10-team Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 points table. In three matches, they have lost all, including a heavy defeat against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The road ahead looks bleak for the five-time champions unless there is a sharp turnaround. In the midst of this, former England star Kevin Pietersen, who is in the IPL commentary panel, has ‘received’ an interesting proposal.

A social media user requested CSK to hire Pietersen as mentor: “Dear @ChennaiIPL please bring @KP24 as a Mentor.”

Pietersen had a hilarious take on the proposal. “Yes please. It’s closer to Maldives. Easier travel for me.”

Yes please. It’s closer to Maldives. Easier travel for me. https://t.co/ErZdo660t2

— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) April 7, 2026

Meanwhile, head coach Stephen Fleming downplayed Sanju Samson‘s underwhelming run in IPL 2026, saying the wicketkeeper batter is “going through the process of connecting” with Chennai Super Kings and he is “desperate” to score runs and contribute to the team’s success.

Samson, who joined the Super Kings from Rajasthan Royals amid much hype ahead of IPL 2026, has so far managed 6, 7, 9 in the first three matches.

“It’s difficult when you’ve been at a franchise (RR) for some time and even though he probably feels pretty comfortable there’s still an element of belonging and he’s going through the process of connecting with this team,” said Fleming in the post-match press conference.

Samson’s modest outings at the top have robbed CSK of the desired quick beginning in this IPL, but Fleming said the Kerala man is “desperate” to find his rhythm.

“The team (CSK) has got five or six changes. So, it’s not like it’s a set team. There’s a little bit of work to be done off the field that we’re doing just to make the bonds a bit tighter but he’s fine. He’s fitted in really well.

“He’s desperate for some runs and to contribute along with the senior players. We saw with his World Cup (campaign) what can happen and when a batter gets on a run he is one guy that can be very dangerous. So, there’ll be nothing but support and confidence given from us to Sanju as he forges his path in yellow,” he added

Featured Video Of The Day

Delhi vs Mumbai IPL 2026: Fans Flood Arun Jaitley Stadium for High-Voltage Clash