It says quite a bit about David Raya’s character that, throughout the delirious Spanish celebrations that adopted their European Championship closing win over England, his precedence was to hunt out Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale to supply comfort.
“Obviously, I was over the moon, but I was upset for them as well because they worked so hard,” Raya tells Sky Sports activities. “They’re actually, very nice guys and they’re my team-mates.
“It’s upsetting for them, and for the whole country, but for myself,” Raya provides, the intense expression on his face giving method to a smile, “this is something that I will never forget.”
We’re a month on from the ultimate and Raya, sun-tanned and nonetheless on a excessive from that historic success in Germany, is again within the acquainted environment of Arsenal’s coaching floor, stepping up preparations for the brand new season and aiming to select up the place he left off final time period.
Being part of Spain’s European Championship success capped a dizzying 12 months for him. “Coming here on loan and playing for this amazing club, making my debut in the Champions League, being that close to winning the league, then winning the Euros as well.”
And that wasn’t all. Along with the European Championship winners medal sitting in his rucksack at house – “I haven’t unpacked yet,” he grins – Raya has a Premier League Golden Glove award to indicate for his document of 16 clear sheets in 32 video games final time period.
It’s some going for a goalkeeper whose skilled profession started on mortgage at Southport, in English soccer’s fifth tier, with a 3-0 loss to Macclesfield City in entrance of a crowd of 1,450 in 2014, having left Spain, alone, to enrol in Blackburn’s academy.
“When I came to England at 16, the only thing I wanted to do was enjoy football and enjoy the challenge,” he says. “Of course, you think about stuff that you might be able to do, but I just kept giving myself targets in the short and medium term, footballing-wise.
Raya received the Golden Glove final season with 16 clear sheets
“Winning the Euros was one and playing for Arsenal was one.
“I am pleased to say that I’ve achieved a few of my desires.”
Some but not all.
Raya helped Arsenal accrue their second-highest points total in Premier League history last season. They set club records for wins and goals scored. For a second consecutive year, though, they ultimately fell short of Manchester City in the title race.
“I feel we had a extremely good marketing campaign however at some phases we did not handle the video games the place we dropped a couple of factors effectively,” says Raya. “It is that steadiness of understanding when it’s a must to handle video games. Additionally, it’s a must to go all in, particularly at first of the season.”
That’s the goal now and Arsenal look in good condition having warmed up for Saturday’s opener in opposition to Wolves with pleasant wins over Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon on the Emirates Stadium, of which Raya, Arsenal’s returning No 1, performed each minute.
He and his team-mates know there’s little margin for error.
“Our second half of final season was practically good however it’s a must to be good to win the league, particularly in opposition to Man Metropolis. They’re so good and they’re so skilled on this atmosphere.
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Watch Raya’s greatest moments for Arsenal throughout the 2023/24 season
“We have to learn from everything, from every mistake and from the good things that we have done as well, to carry on and improve them. That is what we need to do. It has been a fantastic year but we have to – and I have to – make the next one better.”
Resilience and going through setbacks
Raya is approaching the problem forward having turned his mortgage transfer from Brentford everlasting in July and signed a long-term contract, one other satisfying milestone in a 12 months stuffed with them.
“Obviously, last year, I was only on loan but I gave everything for the club and I wanted to stay here for as long as possible,” he says. “When you break up for summer and you go with the internationals, you focus more on international football at that moment.
“However I had it at the back of my thoughts, ‘Am I going to signal? Am I not?’ It was a reduction to signal the contract for the approaching years. It is a pleasure to be right here, it is incredible, with the way in which the membership goes, the gamers, the employees, everybody across the membership, the followers. It is wonderful.
“You don’t know how good it is until you are inside. It’s a pleasure to be here and it’s a dream come true to be able to be part of this club.”
Raya’s shoot-out heroics helped Arsenal beat Porto within the Champions League
Not that it has all been simple.
His arrival was greeted with scepticism given Ramsdale’s reputation amongst followers. The stress on him was ramped up by some high-profile errors within the first half of final season.
Raya was closely scrutinised because of this however his braveness within the face of setbacks was part of his attraction to Mikel Arteta within the first place.
It carried him by way of. Few are doubting him now.
It is a pleasure to be right here and a dream come true to be a part of this membership
“I think that’s been the key of my career,” says Raya. “When I came to England for the first time, to train with Blackburn with my old club, Cornella, my old goalie coach, César, told them, ‘You need to take Dave. He is the only one who, mentality-wise, can cope with it.’
“And he wasn’t fallacious. I had a number of lows and a number of highs, however I feel my mentality has been very, very key. Keep sturdy within the powerful moments and benefit from the good ones.”
Proactive goalkeeping explained
Of course, Arteta’s pursuit of Raya was based on his goalkeeping qualities as well as character and mentality.
The 28-year-old has introduced a brand new interpretation of the function to the membership; extra aggressive, with a higher willingness to take dangers each out and in of possession. He places it all the way down to Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach Iñaki Caña, with whom he beforehand labored at Brentford.
“He has changed my style of being a goalkeeper,” says Raya.
“If you watch highlights from me when I was back at Blackburn, you will see a keeper that just stood on the line, not coming for anything, rarely going for a cross, rarely going outside the box, rarely anticipating, just waiting to make that save.
Raya’s contact map highlights his excessive beginning place
“When I signed for Brentford, Iñaki just completely changed my style of being a goalkeeper, to be more proactive and anticipate stuff that has not happened yet.
“So, for those who can go for a cross, simply go for it. Do not look forward to the save. As a substitute, keep away from the prospect. For balls in behind and all that, keep excessive as a lot as attainable to have the ability to lower out the assault.
“If you see me at Blackburn and then after I signed for Brentford, it’s two completely different goalkeepers. At Blackburn, I wasn’t going for any crosses. And then at Brentford and here, I think my numbers on crosses are remarkable.”
Raya is correct about that. He stopped a better share of crosses than every other Premier League goalkeeper final time period, his price of 12.2 per cent approach up on the 6.8 per cent common.
His proactivity applies in possession in addition to out of it, the thought being to launch Arsenal assaults in addition to finish the opponent’s.
Throughout Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace on the Emirates Stadium in January, Arteta might be seen turning straight in direction of his goalkeeper to applaud him after his fast throw allowed Gabriel Jesus to put on a speedy, breakaway objective for Leandro Trossard.
It was certainly one of seven throws by Raya final season which led on to an opportunity being created. No different Premier League goalkeeper made greater than two. When he’s not launching the ball along with his palms, Raya is utilizing his toes with an analogous degree of precision.
Raya has hailed the affect of Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach
“I love it,” he says. “It’s one of the parts of being a goalkeeper I enjoy the most, especially playing for Arsenal. We need that extra player to get that security straight from the back.
“I really like being a part of the build-up, being a part of attempting to create targets and to create assaults.
“It’s fun. I enjoy the challenge. I know there are going to be mistakes and goals conceded because of it, because that’s the way we play. But that’s the risk that we take and that’s the risk that the manager wants us to take. The benefit is bigger than the risk, I think.”
Arsenal’s sturdy foundations
Raya acknowledges life at Arsenal is made simpler by the presence of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in entrance of him. The pair are a formidable centre-back duo. Like Raya, they performed an necessary function in Arsenal’s excellent defensive shows final time period.
Raya celebrates with Gabriel final season
“Pfff,” he says, puffing out his cheeks on the point out of them, as if not sure the place to start out. “They are so strong and the relationship they have between them is incredible,” says Raya. “They both know where the other one is in every situation, so they have each other’s backs.
“And so they’re so intelligent, each of them, contemplating they’re comparatively younger. I do know Wilo is a bit youthful than Gabriel, however they’re each comparatively younger and the positions they take up on the pitch to keep away from stuff taking place are unbelievable.”
Arsenal’s defensive unit has been further bolstered by the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori, a £42m signing from Bologna whose full-blooded playing style has already made an impression on Raya.
Raya has been impressed by Riccardo Calafiori
“First of all, he’s a great guy,” he says. “He’s young, only 22, and he’s hungry. In terms of football, he’s a great player who has a great future. He can play left-back, he can play left centre-back. So, the first impression has been very, very good.
“He’s very, very sturdy,” Raya adds with a smile. “He goes for the tackles. He simply goes for it. He would put his head in a washer, if you already know what I am saying. However the principle factor is that he is an ideal man in addition to an ideal participant.”
Raya’s team-mates, particularly these carrying England colors again in Berlin final month, would likely say the identical about him. After a dizzying 12 months, through which some, however not all, of his desires have been fulfilled, it’s time for him and Arsenal to go once more.
Observe Arsenal vs Wolves on Sky Sports activities’ digital platforms on Saturday from 1.30pm; kick-off 3pm; free highlights from 5.15pm
