With Arsenal looking to bounce back after two damaging defeats, goalkeeper David Raya offered an insight into the mood in the camp and how the squad is approaching the challenge of Sporting Lisbon. The Spaniard also fielded questions on Martin Odegaard’s return and the support he’s offered to his understudy, Kepa.
**On the feeling in the camp…**
Obviously, we are disappointed with the results, with the two losses, but we have full faith in ourselves, and the squad is really, really good. Really happy to be back together, obviously, as well from the international break and just ready to go again.
**On there being extra pressure on the side coming into the Sporting game…**
No, I don’t think the word is pressure. I think it’s an opportunity to show what we are and what we’re capable of. So we just have to grab the opportunity and just win the game.
**On his role in the camp in situations like this…**
Of course, it’s a disappointing moment, obviously losing against Southampton in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. But now that is gone. We just have to use that feeling, that pain that we had after the game, just to pick it up for the rest of the season, and it starts tomorrow. That’s the most important thing. It starts tomorrow. That’s the most important game. That’s it, basically. The role is just to be together, enjoy being out there together, and that’s the most important thing.
**On Arsenal needing to show mental strength in the rest of the season…**
I think we just have to focus on ourselves, enjoy every day training and playing together, and it’s a massive opportunity. We are in a really, really good position, especially in the Premier League, and obviously we have an opportunity tomorrow to win, and then we’ll see what happens. But the most important thing is to enjoy being together and enjoy being out there playing football, because if you don’t enjoy it, it’s not worth it.
**On being more fired up playing against a former club, as Viktor Gyokeres will be doing…**
I think so. I think it gives you that extra motivation if you want to say it like this, going back to your old club and where you have developed as a player and as a person. He’ll be eager to play, he’ll be eager to score goals, so let’s hope he can score a few tomorrow. I haven’t spoken to him \[Viktor\] about it, but hopefully he’ll be excited to be back here.
**On Martin Odegaard’s return to the team…**
Obviously, we have missed him. He’s the club captain, he’s a leader on and off the pitch and the quality that he shows, I think he only played 60 minutes the other day, but you could see the way he came, and he was ready to go. So much quality on the ball and so much quality off the ball, leading the team. So obviously, we have missed him. He’s a really, really important player for us, and now he’s back, and let’s enjoy him.
**On the qualities of Arteta and his staff to raise spirits…**
Of course. I think they play a massive, massive role on us. They know what we need and what we want when there’s a defeat. Luckily, we haven’t lost that many games, but we lost two important ones, and they have lifted us up as much as possible, and they know what they’re doing, and they’re really, really good at that.
**On the players speaking amongst themselves…**
We haven’t had a meeting away from it. We have meetings every day with the staff, like every club does, so nothing out of the ordinary. Just carry on with the routines.
**On the mentality within the group…**
I think we are in a really, really good position in both competitions, like I said before. It’s just that happiness that you have to be out there playing. We have to enjoy ourselves. This is the most important part of the season now, the next couple of months, and we just have to enjoy it.
**On the test posed by Sporting Lisbon…**
I think their record at home is really, really good. We expect a big battle. Two teams that want the ball, and they want to attack. We are ready for it, but we know it’s going to be a tough battle tomorrow.
**On whether he was frustrated to sit out the two defeats…**
No, it’s just part of football. Sometimes you get picked, sometimes you don’t. You just have to be there for the team, for your teammates. Ad for Kepa, in this example. Trying to help as much as possible. Obviously, the word is not frustration. It’s just part of football that the boss decides who plays and who doesn’t. We are used to those types of situations.
**On his experiences at Southport and how they’ve shaped his career…**
Those moments, I always said, especially at Southport and obviously Blackburn, they made the person and the player I am today. And because of that, I am where I am today because I went out there, out of my comfort zone, to play other types of football because I was obviously playing for the under-21s at Blackburn. And of course, my late career, like you said, playing most of my time in the Championship and League One, makes me more happy to be where I am right now. Saying that hard work pays off, and it’s always something, if you fight for it, it can happen. So I’m just living the dream, playing for this football club and obviously fighting for these titles.
**On staying humble…**
Just being myself. That’s the person I am. Just being normal, like myself.
**On his role in the build-up…**
Well, I am the last line of defence and the first line of attack. So I try to apply what the boss wants me to do with the ball and without the ball. Trying to find those advantages to carry the ball to the other goal. So basically, what we’re trying to do is from the back to try to score. And that’s the way we play, and I feel very, very confident to play this way, and I really, really enjoy it. I feel like I’ve been enjoying this football since I came here and taking that responsibility to help the team to win games.
**On the Sporting match representing a chance to show mental strength…**
Every game is an opportunity, and the next game is tomorrow. We have to be ourselves, and there’s going to be talk about the two losses that we had. But we have to see it as an opportunity to carry on, to show what team we are and what we want. So it’s a massive one tomorrow, and we know it’s going to be a difficult one. But this team is ready for everything.
**On his conversations with Kepa…**
After the Man City game, we went on international, I was away, and then he stayed here. But after Southampton, obviously, there’s not much you can say – the team wasn’t at the standards that we set. So there are no conversations towards those situations. It’s just like trying to be a good teammate and a good friend, like we are.
**On Sporting’s coach saying Arsenal are like a wounded animal…**
No, no. That’s just part of football, losing a game. I don’t like that sentence, but if he feels like this, that’s how he feels. But no, we feel with a lot of energy and are eager to play tomorrow.