Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has expressed his belief that the club is on the brink of winning major silverware, as he highlighted the team’s progress and hunger for success. The Spanish shot-stopper, currently enjoying his first season as Arsenal’s No. 1, insists that Mikel Arteta’s side is heading in the right direction and that it’s only a matter of time before they claim a major trophy.
### **“Arsenal Is a Great Place to Be”**
Speaking about Arsenal’s evolution under Arteta, Raya emphasized the positive atmosphere within the squad and the club’s ambitions for the future.
_“Arsenal is a great place to be. This is a great club, and the team is incredible. We are going in the right direction to achieve things—it is a matter of time,”_ Raya said.
Arsenal have emerged as one of the most dominant teams in English football over the past two seasons, competing for the Premier League title and making their mark in the Champions League. With a young and talented squad, the club is building towards sustained success, and Raya believes they are getting closer to their ultimate goal.
### **Champions League Ambitions**
Arsenal’s return to the Champions League this season has been impressive, and Raya sees their European journey as a crucial step in their development. He admitted that winning the competition is a dream for every player but acknowledged how difficult the challenge is.
_“Everybody wants to win the Champions League, and everyone knows how hard it is. Last year, I thought we did a really good campaign. We were so close to beating Bayern Munich to go into the semi-finals,”_ Raya said, reflecting on Arsenal’s quarter-final heartbreak last season.
The Gunners were narrowly eliminated by Bayern in what was a tightly contested tie, but the experience has only fueled their determination to go further.
### **The Challenge of Facing Real Madrid**
Arsenal now have a massive test ahead in the form of Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. The Spanish giants are the most successful club in the competition’s history, but Raya is relishing the challenge of facing them.
_“We are going in the right direction. We have that experience now, and not many players had played in the Champions League before. We look forward to it and accept the challenge. We have a big challenge ahead playing Real Madrid. It is the one you really wanted to play when you were young,”_ he added.
Raya’s confidence in the team reflects the growing belief within the Arsenal squad. The Gunners have already shown they can compete at the highest level, and with players like Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Declan Rice leading the charge, they have every reason to believe a trophy is within reach.
### **A Defining Period Ahead**
With Arsenal competing on multiple fronts, the next few months will be crucial in determining whether they can turn their potential into silverware. Raya’s words serve as a rallying call for the squad, as they prepare to face Real Madrid in a tie that could define their season.
Arsenal fans will hope that their goalkeeper’s belief translates into results on the pitch—and perhaps, by the end of the season, they will be celebrating a long-awaited trophy.