Arteta: Raya’s journey to the top is an inspiration
Following an outstanding performance at Sunderland, which included a penalty save from Enzo Le Fee, David Raya was named the Premier League’s Player of the Matchweek on Wednesday.
His dramatic 56th-minute intervention came with the scores still level and proved all the more important when, just 120 seconds later, substitute Bruno Guimaraes found the net from range. Raya clearly knew its significance, racing to the touchline to embrace goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana as Arsenal celebrated the goal that set them on course for three important points.
Raya has now made 153 appearances for the Gunners since joining from Brentford, initially on loan, in 2023, keeping 71 clean sheets and winning the Premier League’s Golden Glove in each of the last three seasons.
That level of success was far from guaranteed when he arrived. Plenty of supporters were sceptical about the decision to replace Aaron Ramsdale, who had performed well and become a popular figure, so Raya had to work for their approval. Hard work, however, has rarely been an issue during his career.
At 17, he left home to join Blackburn Rovers as a scholar and later spent time on loan with National League side Southport before getting his chance at Ewood Park. He went on to play in League One and the Championship, then joined Brentford in 2019, making for a fairly roundabout route to three successive Golden Gloves.
In Mikel Arteta’s opinion, Raya’s journey should inspire other young players.
“That’s a great story for any kid – to look at trajectories and pathways, and how you can reach the highest level in football, and always maintaining that will, that motivation, and that enthusiasm that it can happen.
“Now football, especially internationally, is so connected that you never know, you might be playing a game, somebody scouts you, and you can end up in two or three years’ time playing at the highest level.
“David, I think it’s his mentality [that sets him apart]. Obviously he has tremendous quality, but he has overcome a lot of difficulties, a lot of challenges, to reach to this point.
“When he reached this point, it wasn’t easy in the beginning, he really had to dig in and prove himself, and with all the coaches, with Inaki especially, doing amazing work with him daily, and all his teammates, he has earned the right to be one of the best now.”
Whether Raya is crowned the best remains to be seen. After helping Arsenal win a first league title in 22 years and reach the Champions League final, the 31-year-old has been shortlisted for the Yashin award, presented by France Football and UEFA to the world’s best goalkeeper.
Awards like that are always subjective, as is the question of whether Raya has been Arteta’s best ‘pound for pound’ signing during his seven years at the club. The manager was understandably reluctant to start ranking his own purchases, but remained effusive in his praise.
“I don’t know – he’s been a tremendous signing, there’s no question about that.
“Whether he’s been the best or not, it’s just an opinion, but it doesn’t matter, we are so happy to have him.
“He’s helped take the team and the club to a different level, and now we need to maintain that level.”
That final line from Arteta carries the usual warning: maintain the level, or somebody else will be asked to raise it. Raya knows that better than most, given the circumstances of his own arrival, but there is little sign of him giving the manager anything to think about. At 31, he appears to be hitting the peak of his powers at much the same time as the team around him.
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