Henry backs Raya: He fully qualified to compete for the Player of the Season

Thierry Henry has backed an unsung Arsenal hero to be a major contender to win the player of the season award.

The Gunners’ pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple gained further momentum last night after a 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen guaranteed them a place in the Champions League quarter finals, where they will meet Sporting Lisbon.

After a 1-1 draw in Germany last week the tie was evenly poised, but Arsenal rarely looked like failing to make home advantage count and eased to a routine victory.

Eberechi’s first half thunderbolt set Mikel Arteta’s side on their way and the Arsenal manager was afforded the luxury of resting several key players ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City when Declan Rice’s long-range strike put the game to bed just after the hour mark.

An uncomfortable last five minutes was only avoided, however, as a consequence of David Raya’s latest astonishing save.

The Spain international, who came to Arsenal’s rescue in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Everton, leapt to his right to claw away Christian Kofane’s point blank effort in the closing stages and preserve another clean sheet.

Henry played in Arsenal teams that boasted goalkeepers of world class repute in David Seaman and Jens Lehmann and suggested Raya is operating at a similar level this season.

He told CBS: ‘This guy should be in contention to be player of the season because what he does for Arsenal every single time.

‘It’s very difficult sometimes to see what a goalkeeper does but he cannot make you win the game.

‘He can make you hope that you’re not losing it by making saves but he does that two to three times every single game. It’s just outstanding.’

Rice is arguably the outstanding candidate to be crowned player of the season from an Arsenal perspective, while defensive linchpin Gabriel also boasts serious credentials, but the midfield powerhouse, like Henry, is full of admiration for his goalkeeper.

‘He deserves every bit of credit he’s getting,’ said Rice. ‘I wish people could come in every day and see how he trains.

‘Because the intensity he trains at and the level that he trains at there’s no reason why he’s not doing what he’s doing on the pitch it’s incredible to see him every day.

‘The effort with the lads, he’s turned into a real leader for us and when you’ve got a keeper like that it gives everyone confidence and yes, he’s incredible.’

Arteta, meanwhile, fielded heavy criticism two-and-a-half years ago when he made the divisive decision to sanction a move for Raya and ditch fans’ favourite Aaron Ramsdale.

The Arsenal manager has subsequently been thoroughly vindicated and was happy to join in with the praise for the former Brentford No.1 after last night’s display.

He said: ‘I don’t know what they generated, again in two games it was a set-piece last time and then a header before that, and today an action. He makes an incredible save, that’s why he’s here, he’s absolutely amazing.’