Mikel Arteta says he wanted one player as soon as he joined Arsenal but Edu signed him years later

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Mikel Arteta has been at Arsenal for nearly six years now.

The Spaniard was appointed as the Gunners’ head coach in December 2019. He replaced Unai Emery after the latter’s underwhelming spell at the Emirates.

Arteta had a clear vision for Arsenal from his very first day, so much so that he had even decided which player he wanted to sign straight away – David Raya.

Mikel Arteta says he wanted to sign David Raya for Arsenal as soon as he arrived

Arsenal signed Raya from Brentford in 2023, initially on loan.

The Spain international was viewed as competition for Aaron Ramsdale, but it became clear very soon that Mikel Arteta wanted his compatriot to be his number one.

Raya had a tricky start because of all the attention, but since he got past that stage, he has been magnificent for the North Londoners.

Ahead of the game against Brentford, Arteta was asked about Raya, and he revealed that the goalkeeper was an immediate target for him when he became the Arsenal boss in 2019.

He said, as per the club’s official website: “He is an amazing goalkeeper. It’s a great story as well, and how it happened.

“We tried to sign David much earlier, it was as soon as I arrived, almost, and he had to wait another two years.

“The start that he had and the journey that we had together has been phenomenal for us, and I’m very happy to have him.”

Is David Raya the best goalkeeper Arsenal have ever had? If not, who is it?

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Why Edu Gaspar didn’t sign David Raya for Arsenal right away

In Arteta’s first summer transfer window in 2020, Arsenal needed a goalkeeper.

A decision was made to sell Emiliano Martinez despite his brilliant performances in the previous months, and Raya, as Arteta said, was viewed as the top target.

The Guardian revealed at the time that Arsenal made multiple bids of around £10 million for Raya, but Brentford refused to sell him in that window.

The Bees were in the Championship at the time, so a bigger push from Edu Gaspar may well have sealed the deal for the Spanish goalkeeper.

However, the former Arsenal sporting director decided to sign Runar Alex Runarsson for just £1.5 million instead, and that proved to be a disastrous move.

Four years later, after a successful one-year loan, Arsenal signed Raya for £27 million.