- David Raya has joined Arsenal
- He is on a permanent transfer
- Arteta expects Raya to build upon his success
David Raya has joined Arsenal on a permanent transfer after a highly successful loan season with the Gunners.
The 28-year-old Spanish goalkeeper impressed everyone, keeping a remarkable 16 clean sheets in the Premier League and winning the Golden Glove award. He conceded a mere 16 goals throughout the league campaign.
This move comes despite Aaron Ramsdale’s strong previous season at Arsenal, where he played every league game and kept 14 clean sheets. However, manager Mikel Arteta opted for a change, and Raya thrived in the role.
Raya’s arrival at Arsenal was preceded by a new two-year contract he signed with Brentford in August, just before his loan move.
“I’m thrilled to finally be a permanent Arsenal player,” Raya said, expressing his excitement for the future with the club.
Manager Mikel Arteta praised Raya’s impact, highlighting his presence in the locker room and his passing skills that align with Arsenal’s playing style. Arteta expects Raya to build upon his success and contribute further to the team’s achievements.
Raya’s journey wasn’t entirely smooth. He had a shaky start, with a low point in December’s dramatic 4-3 win against Luton where he made crucial errors. However, he bounced back impressively, missing only two league games (when he couldn’t play against Brentford due to loan restrictions).
The turning point for Raya arguably came in March. His heroics in the Champions League shootout against Porto secured a quarter-final spot for Arsenal. He saved two penalties, becoming the first goalkeeper since Petr Cech in 2012 to achieve this feat in a Champions League shootout.
Raya’s form earned him a call-up to Spain’s Euro 2024 squad, though he remains the understudy to first-choice goalkeeper Unai Simon. He did manage a clean sheet in his only appearance against Albania, a match where Spain rotated their squad after securing their place in the knockout stages.
