David Raya has spoken to [_ESPN FC_](https://youtu.be/1gkZgu1NUTM?si=eUHQvnKbxbVdP1uS) while away on international duty with Spain. The goalkeeper faced a range of questions in English, covering everything from the draw at Sunderland to Max Dowman’s potential and what it is that makes Arsenal’s defence so tough to beat.
Here’s what he had to say…
**On whether Arsenal were surprised by Sunderland…**
No, we knew their physicality, but obviously, they are a very, very strong team. They knew their strengths, and we knew what they were capable of, and that they were going to fight until the end. And, of course, they scored in the last few minutes, which was a very, very disappointing moment for us, but no, we weren’t very surprised.
**On whether Sunderland were the first club to match Arsenal’s physicality…**
I think, in the Premier League, anyone can match the physicality. It’s just the way they play, the way they approach the game, and they know their strengths. They’ve just come up from the Championship, and obviously, that league is very, very physical. So, no, it’s just credit to them. They’re having a really, really good season, where they haven’t lost a game at home, and they’ve been beating and gaining points from the big teams. So, full credit to Sunderland – they are a tough team to beat.
**On what it’s like playing behind such a dominant back four…**
Oh, it’s incredible. Everybody is talking about the back four and everything, but it’s a credit to the whole team, starting from the strikers and ending up with the goalkeeper. I think it’s a credit to everyone when we press, when we do the right things. Of course, if we have to sit deep and wait to get the ball out of that phase, everybody defends. So, it’s a credit to the whole team.
**On whether the Arsenal team talk about winning the title…**
It’s something that, of course, we are Arsenal, and we want to win the Premier League – of course, we want to win everything. That’s why we play for Arsenal. But it’s something that is too far away. We are only 10 or 11 games into the season, and it’s too far to think ahead. We have to think game by game and day by day, and we will see where we are in May.
**On the difference between playing for Spain and Arsenal…**
It’s a different type of environment, a different type of football compared to when you play at club level and international level. It’s incredible to be part of this team – the players, the staff, everything, the surroundings, the fans. Representing your country, such a big country, and such a good country, is incredible. It’s a dream come true. It’s incredible to be part of this team.
**On whether it’s difficult to maintain concentration when he doesn’t see the ball for long periods…**
It’s part of the job, it’s part of being a goalkeeper, it’s part of being in an environment where we dominate the ball a lot during long phases of the game. It’s that communication, that focus on the ball, that keeps you concentrated for the 100 minutes of the game. You cannot switch off as a goalkeeper at any time. At any point in the game, you can be called upon to make a save, to come for a cross, to get a ball in behind. You have to be focused all game.
**On whether the Spanish and English players at Arsenal talk about facing each other in the World Cup…**
There’s a lot of chat. It’s a long way off, of course. First, we need to qualify for the World Cup and these two big games coming up. Of course, we faced them in the final of the Euros. We know they are a very, very good team with quality players. They are very, very strong. Hopefully, we can both be in the final of the World Cup.
**On why it’s so difficult to get past the Arsenal backline…**
I think the difficulty for opponents is that we love to defend – the love of defending, the love of not conceding, not even goals, just chances. We try to stop teams further up the pitch with the pressing that we do. If they push us back into a low block, it’s just that love of defending – to not let the ball go into the box.
**On which Arsenal signing has impressed him the most…**
I think Martín Zubimendi. He’s a player who is very, very clever. He adapted very, very well to the league, where a lot of players take a little longer to adapt – especially in his role. He’s just adapted so, so quickly, and you can see what he does for the team.
**On who will rival Arsenal for the Premier League title…**
There are a lot of teams that can fight for the Premier League. In the Premier League, anyone can beat anyone. As you’ve seen, a lot of teams are getting stronger and stronger, so any team can win the league, to be fair.
**On how impressed he is with Max Dowman and what it’s like sharing a dressing room with him…**
He’s 15, turning 16 at the end of the year, and he’s incredible. Obviously, we don’t share that much time in the dressing room because he’s not allowed to with the rules and everything. But sharing the pitch – the maturity that he shows on the pitch, the willingness he has just to enjoy himself, to take on players, and always with a smile on his face – it’s incredible. We’ve been training with him since he was 14 years old, so I’m very, very impressed with him and his qualities as a player.