David Raya believes Arsenal are ready to compete for multiple trophies this season having built a cushion at the top of the Premier League and started with three wins from three in Europe
David Raya celebrates during Arsenal's win over Atletico Madrid
Raya celebrates during Arsenal's win over Atletico Madrid(Image: Getty Images)
View 2 Images
David Raya says Arsenal’s “incredible” squad can challenge for multiple trophies this season. Arsenal are already sitting pretty on top of the Premier League table and are now title favourites with the bookies.
The Gunners also marked themselves down as genuine European contenders after blowing Atletico Madrid away in the Champions League. And Raya believes Arsenal have the strength in depth, competition and quality to challenge on both fronts to end the club’s six-year wait for a trophy.
When asked whether they can challenge on different fronts, the Arsenal keeper said: “Yes, I think so. I think the depth of the squad is incredible.
“We have a lot of players and we have a lot of players that can play in two, three, four different positions. Like against Atletico, Mikel Merino came on as a striker and he can play as a No8, he can play as a No.10.
“So, that’s the variety that the boss has and he’s using it for our advantage and for the best of the team. It’s looking very, very good and that depth is very important for us.
“It also gives you an extra level in training and in games because if you’re not at it every day, you can lose your spot in a fraction of a second. So, that gives that competitiveness in training and in games. That’s really, really important and everybody is on board with that.”
It was yet another clean sheet for Raya against Arsenal even if it was a long way from the classic “1-0 to the Arsenal” European night.
No-one saw four goals against Diego Simeone’s men coming and Raya says keeping clean sheets - his ninth so far this season - are just as important to him as goals at the other end.
Raya said: “Clean sheets are always important. I give them the same credit as goals, you know. If we continue keeping clean sheets, that’s going to make games easier to win them.
“So, it is really, really important and especially for the whole team, not giving away that many chances and being very, very solid.
“It’s a team effort. It’s a collective effort from the striker to the goalie. So, everyone is on it, everyone doesn’t want to give anything and everyone wants to intercept that ball before it is getting even to the halfway line.
David Raya
Raya and Arsenal have built a formidable defensive record(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
“So, if we intercept that ball, that means we can have a short counter. It’s really, really important for everyone to feel that way and we’re not giving away that many chances, which is perfect.
“You never know when the other team is going to have a chance. So, you have to be alert, no matter how we’re playing or how we play. I have to be alert 90, 100 minutes every game.”
Raya is known for playing out from the back but has also been going longer with his kicking this season. But the keeper denies that he has deliberately changed his style but says sometimes needs must.
He added: “I don’t think I kick the ball that long. But it just depends on the time of the game, especially if we are winning and it’s 10 minutes to go. You just have to play long, because you don’t want to attract any attention, and try to play from second balls.
“But from the start against Atletico, I think we play very, very short, especially. So, it just depends on the game, depends on the time of the game.”
Content Image
Content Image