Joan Garcia was one of Arsenal’s top targets when Edu Gaspar was the sporting director.
The Gunners tried to sign the Spanish goalkeeper in the summer of 2024, and there was interest in him the following year as well, when Andrea Berta was calling the shots.
However, Arsenal missed out on both occasions, firstly because they did not meet Espanyol’s demands and secondly, in 2025, because Garcia chose Barcelona over the North Londoners.
The talented goalkeeper’s comments on David Raya may explain why.
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Joan Garcia’s opinion of David Raya explains why he rejected Arsenal
When Arsenal first targeted Joan Garcia, Raya had already established himself as the Gunners’ number one.
The goalkeeper’s loan deal from Brentford was made permanent, and he became the club’s undisputed first-choice keeper.
In 2024, Garcia had agreed to join Arsenal as a deputy to Raya. However, in 2025, he was no longer keen on a move to the Emirates.
The reason for that may have just come out.
In an interview on El Larguero, Garcia was asked who he thought was the best goalkeeper in the world right now.
He replied: “Well, I like David. David Raya. I think he’s having a fantastic season there in the Premier League.
“Plus, I think it’s also very high demand in terms of what we were talking about earlier – set pieces, playing with his feet as well – and I think he’s at a really high level.
“I have been liking his season a lot.”
The fact that Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world perhaps convinced Garcia that he wasn’t going to get much game time if he joined Arsenal.
That’s probably why he decided to snub the Gunners and join Barcelona instead.
Is David Raya the best goalkeeper Arsenal have ever had? If not, who is it?
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente must listen to Joan Garcia’s comments on David Raya
We completely agree with Garcia – Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world right now.
The Spaniard is the number one at a club who are on top of the Premier League and are the favourites to win the Champions League – Arsenal.
That is enough evidence to suggest that he deserves to be his country’s number one as well, but Luis de la Fuente has preferred Unai Simon in that role.
The Athletic Bilbao star faced Arsenal this season and conceded twice, while Raya kept a clean sheet at the other end.
As things stand, the Gunners’ star is in the form of his life. For that reason, we think he should be Spain’s number one in the World Cup this summer.
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