£27m Arsenal star now admits it’s ‘not easy’ to adapt to Mikel Arteta’s demands

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David Raya has now opened up about how he struggled to adapt to life at Arsenal this season. 

Arsenal signed goalkeeper David Raya on a season-long loan deal from Brentford in the recent summer transfer window. 

Soon after his arrival at the Emirates Stadium, the Spanish shot-stopper controversially usurped Aaron Ramsdale in the pecking order.

Ramsdale is a popular figure at Arsenal, and a fan-favourite. Mikel Arteta came in for plenty of criticism for his treatment of the England international. 

When Raya struggled to impress in some of his early appearances for the north London club, pressure grew on the Spanish coach as calls for Ramsdale to be brought back into the starting XI intensified. 

However, Raya is clearly the manager’s first-choice pick between the sticks. Whilst Arteta, early in the season, did talk up his plan of rotating both goalkeepers regularly, there has been no evidence of that plan being put into action, as Ramsdale is now very much stuck in a back up role at the club. 

David Raya reveals challenges of transition to life at Arsenal

In recent weeks, Raya has looked like a more assured presence between the sticks. He was also able to make a vital contribution against Crystal Palace last time out, as his quick thinking led to the Gunners’ third goal of the match. Raya collected the ball from a Crystal Palace delivery into the box, rushed to the edge of his own area, and hurled a quick throw to Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian striker was then able to release Leandro Trossard, who fired the ball into the back of the net, just ten seconds after it left Raya’s gloves.

Raya has now opened up about the challenges he faced when he first came to Arsenal, and how he now feels at the Emirates Stadium. As quoted by The Mirror, the 28-year-old said, “I think you need time to adapt to a new team, new club, new facilities and new demands. It’s not easy, but I think I am finding my feet and I am finding myself now. Of course I am feeling part of the team.”

Arsenal now look set to shell out £27 million in order to convert the 3-cap Spain international’s loan move into a permanent switch. If Raya can build on his recent form and become a consistently impressive performer then he will have justified the decision to keep him on a long-term basis.