David Raya has spent most of his adult football life in England, and the Arsenal goalkeeper believes the move he made at 16 set him on the road to a season few Spanish players could match: a Premier League title, Community Shield, Champions League final and Spain’s World Cup triumph. Speaking at his London home, Raya looked back on Arsenal’s climb, Mikel Arteta’s influence and the prospect of one day returning to play in Spain.
From a teenage trial to Arsenal’s No 1
Born in Barcelona in 1995, Raya left home as a teenager to take an opportunity in English football. He said the trial offered at 16 was too important to let pass, and that he eventually earned a contract by taking it fully.
The early years were not straightforward. Raya recalled the difficulty of living away from his parents, siblings and friends, although he felt the separation was probably harder on his family than on him. He set himself a clear target: he would not leave England before playing in the Premier League.
His eventual move to Arsenal came with rather less certainty than the usual modern transfer unveiling. Raya initially joined on loan, with no assurance that the deal would become permanent and with an established first-choice goalkeeper already at the club.
- Raya said Arteta and Arsenal goalkeeping coach Iñaki Cana were central to making his permanent signing happen.
- He said both pushed the club strongly to complete the deal.
- He described Arteta as a pivotal figure not only in his own development, but for every player coached by the Arsenal manager.
- Raya believes Arteta has a sharp eye for identifying what players need to improve, while demanding the maximum from them.
Arsenal’s resilience and the pain of Paris
For Arsenal, the Premier League title followed seasons in which the finishing line had seemed painfully close before slipping away. Raya said the weight of expectation was considerable, particularly with outside voices predicting another collapse.
He credited the resilience instilled by Arteta, as well as the players’ willingness to confront their own shortcomings. There were meetings among the squad during the run-in, he said, when the group had to be honest with itself about what needed to change.
That collective maturity mattered in turning the season around. Arsenal found their pride, Raya said, and ensured the old pattern did not repeat itself.
The campaign then carried them to the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, a night Raya remembers with both hurt and satisfaction. Arsenal took the lead in the fourth minute and clung to it, only for a late penalty to make it 1-1.
There was obvious disappointment at the final whistle, but Raya remains proud of Arsenal’s European run. Reaching a Champions League final, he said, is an experience available to only a small number of footballers.
Spain’s World Cup, Yamal and the next target
Spain’s World Cup win brought its own goalkeeper debate, but Raya insisted the noise around selection did not unsettle the squad. The manager’s decision had to be respected, he said, with every player trying to make himself difficult to leave out while accepting whatever role served the team.
There was no need for a formal explanation of each player’s status, in his view. The manager’s duty was to the group, and Raya described Spain as the best national side in the world, with a close-knit camp and no bad feeling among the players.
Spain faced criticism after their opening match, but Raya said tournament football is judged at the finish rather than the start. He pointed to Spain’s 2010 World Cup side, who began with defeat before lifting the trophy, and identified the victory over France as the key moment in the latest run.
- Raya said Spain’s collective performance against France gave the squad belief that the final had to be theirs.
- He said Argentina attempted to deny Spain possession in the final, but Spain knew their opponents could suffer without the ball.
- Spain’s composure and commitment to their own football proved decisive, Raya said.
- Ferran scored the winning goal, a moment Raya felt the forward deserved.
The World Cup stands apart from other trophies, Raya said. The matches, travelling, heat and the demands of the final made the eventual lift of the cup especially meaningful. It brought back childhood memories of watching Spain win in 2010 and imagining being in the same position.
The squad’s downtime was rather less like the famous stories from the 2010 camp. Raya said there were no late-night doughnut gatherings, though there was plenty of Mario Kart, card games and chess after meals. Players also tested each other with football trivia while receiving treatment.
Raya believes the past year has been the best of his professional career. He said he had been decisive in the league, Champions League and Community Shield, although he felt the one missing personal element was playing at the World Cup.
With individual awards approaching, he made a clear case for himself among the leading goalkeepers, but his Ballon d’Or choice was Lamine Yamal. Raya said the young forward brings back the simple excitement of watching football: the sort of player supporters want to see receive the ball, beat several opponents and create something special.
He described Yamal as a good-natured 19-year-old enjoying a dream while still listening to those around him. Raya sits beside Yamal and Nico in the Spain set-up and said their regular bickering provides plenty of amusement.
Asked about the Manchester City case, Raya declined to enter the argument. Arsenal’s players, he said, are focused on the present and leave any decision on that matter to those responsible.
Arsenal’s ambition now is straightforward: to win everything. Raya said the side want to establish themselves among the favourites and improve on last season by lifting the Champions League, while acknowledging there is a long way to go.
A future in Spain remains possible
Despite his long English stay, Raya has not ruled out a return to Spanish football. He said he would love to experience LaLiga, which he regards as highly competitive, though he is happy in England for now.
“I’m Spanish, so of course I would love to play there,” was the essence of his view. A spell at a Spanish club may be for the future rather than the next window.
Away from football, Raya’s London home includes Bruce and Goku, two trained dogs that protect the house. Bruce was adopted from English friends who could no longer look after him, while Goku has been with Raya and his wife since he was a puppy.
- Raya says cars have long been an interest and he tends to change his vehicle every year or two.
- His current Mercedes Brabus is less than a year old and provides the room needed for the dogs, his child and a pushchair.
- Jewellery is the family trade, begun by his maternal grandfather and continued by his parents and siblings.
- Of his interests outside football, he said video games would come ahead of cars and jewellery.
- He enjoyed appearing in Among Us despite the jokes and online memes it generated.
Raya also spoke warmly about family life. A florist delivered anniversary flowers a day early ahead of five years with his wife, but he took the error cheerfully: at least she had received them. For his child, he hopes for an active and sporting life, alongside education and the freedom to choose a path that feels fulfilling.
