David Raya unique interview: Arsenal’s grasp of ‘proactive’ goalkeeping able to go once more after ‘superb’ 12 months | Soccer Information

It says rather a lot about David Raya’s character that, through the delirious Spanish celebrations that adopted their European Championship ultimate win over England, his precedence was to hunt out Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale to supply comfort.

“Clearly, I used to be over the moon, however I used to be upset for them as properly as a result of they labored so onerous,” Raya tells Sky Sports activities. “They’re actually, very nice guys and they’re my team-mates.

“It is upsetting for them, and for the entire nation, however for myself,” Raya provides, the intense expression on his face giving solution to a smile, “that is one thing that I’ll always remember.”

We’re a month on from the ultimate and Raya, sun-tanned and nonetheless on a excessive from that historic success in Germany, is again within the acquainted environment of Arsenal’s coaching floor, stepping up preparations for the brand new season and aiming to choose up the place he left off final time period.

Being part of Spain’s European Championship success capped a dizzying 12 months for him. “Coming right here on mortgage and enjoying for this superb membership, making my debut within the Champions League, being that near successful the league, then successful the Euros as properly.”

And that wasn’t all. Along with the European Championship winners medal sitting in his rucksack at dwelling – “I have not unpacked but,” he grins – Raya has a Premier League Golden Glove award to indicate for his report of 16 clear sheets in 32 video games final time period.

It’s some going for a goalkeeper whose skilled profession started on mortgage at Southport, in English soccer’s fifth tier, with a 3-0 loss to Macclesfield City in entrance of a crowd of 1,450 in 2014, having left Spain, alone, to enrol in Blackburn’s academy.

“After I got here to England at 16, the one factor I wished to do was take pleasure in soccer and benefit from the problem,” he says. “After all, you consider stuff that you just would possibly be capable of do, however I simply stored giving myself targets within the quick and medium time period, footballing-wise.

“Profitable the Euros was one and enjoying for Arsenal was one.

“I am pleased to say that I’ve achieved a few of my desires.”

Some however not all.

Raya helped Arsenal accrue their second-highest factors whole in Premier League historical past final season. They set membership information for wins and objectives scored. For a second consecutive 12 months, although, they finally fell wanting Manchester Metropolis within the title race.

“I feel we had a very good marketing campaign however at some levels we did not handle the video games the place we dropped a couple of factors properly,” says Raya. “It is that stability of understanding when you must handle video games. Additionally, you must go all in, particularly at first of the season.”

That’s the purpose now and Arsenal look in fine condition having warmed up for Saturday’s opener in opposition to Wolves with pleasant wins over Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon on the Emirates Stadium, of which Raya, Arsenal’s returning No 1, performed each minute.

He and his team-mates know there’s little margin for error.

“Our second half of final season was almost good however you must be good to win the league, particularly in opposition to Man Metropolis. They’re so good and they’re so skilled on this setting.

“We have now to be taught from every thing, from each mistake and from the great issues that we’ve finished as properly, to hold on and enhance them. That’s what we have to do. It has been a implausible 12 months however we’ve to – and I’ve to – make the subsequent one higher.”

Resilience and dealing with setbacks

Raya is approaching the problem forward having turned his mortgage transfer from Brentford everlasting in July and signed a long-term contract, one other satisfying milestone in a 12 months filled with them.

“Clearly, final 12 months, I used to be solely on mortgage however I gave every thing for the membership and I wished to remain right here for so long as potential,” he says. “While you break up for summer time and also you go together with the internationals, you focus extra on worldwide soccer at that second.

“However I had it behind my thoughts, ‘Am I going to signal? Am I not?’ It was a reduction to signal the contract for the approaching years. It is a pleasure to be right here, it is implausible, with the way in which the membership goes, the gamers, the employees, everybody across the membership, the followers. It is superb.

“You do not know how good it’s till you might be inside. It is a pleasure to be right here and it is a dream come true to have the ability to be a part of this membership.”

Not that it has all been simple.

His arrival was greeted with scepticism given Ramsdale’s recognition amongst followers. The stress on him was ramped up by some high-profile errors within the first half of final season.

Raya was closely scrutinised in consequence however his braveness within the face of setbacks was part of his enchantment to Mikel Arteta within the first place.

It carried him via. Few are doubting him now.

It is a pleasure to be right here and a dream come true to be a part of this membership

“I feel that is been the important thing of my profession,” says Raya. “After I got here to England for the primary time, to coach with Blackburn with my previous membership, Cornella, my previous goalie coach, César, informed them, ‘You’ll want to take Dave. He’s the one one who, mentality-wise, can address it.’

“And he wasn’t mistaken. I had lots of lows and lots of highs, however I feel my mentality has been very, very key. Keep sturdy within the robust moments and benefit from the good ones.”

Proactive goalkeeping defined

After all, Arteta’s pursuit of Raya was based mostly on his goalkeeping qualities in addition to character and mentality.

The 28-year-old has introduced a brand new interpretation of the function to the membership; extra aggressive, with a higher willingness to take dangers each out and in of possession. He places it right down to Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach Iñaki Caña, with whom he beforehand labored at Brentford.

“He has modified my model of being a goalkeeper,” says Raya.

“When you watch highlights from me once I was again at Blackburn, you will note a keeper that simply stood on the road, not coming for something, hardly ever going for a cross, hardly ever going outdoors the field, hardly ever anticipating, simply ready to make that save.

“After I signed for Brentford, Iñaki simply utterly modified my model of being a goalkeeper, to be extra proactive and anticipate stuff that has not occurred but.

“So, in the event you can go for a cross, simply go for it. Do not await the save. As an alternative, keep away from the prospect. For balls in behind and all that, keep excessive as a lot as potential to have the ability to minimize out the assault.

“When you see me at Blackburn after which after I signed for Brentford, it is two utterly completely different goalkeepers. At Blackburn, I wasn’t going for any crosses. After which at Brentford and right here, I feel my numbers on crosses are exceptional.”

Raya is correct about that. He stopped the next proportion of crosses than every other Premier League goalkeeper final time period, his fee of 12.2 per cent means up on the 6.8 per cent common.

His proactivity applies in possession in addition to out of it, the concept being to launch Arsenal assaults in addition to finish the opponent’s.

Throughout Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace on the Emirates Stadium in January, Arteta may very well be seen turning straight in direction of his goalkeeper to applaud him after his fast throw allowed Gabriel Jesus to put on a fast, breakaway purpose for Leandro Trossard.

It was one in every of seven throws by Raya final season which led on to an opportunity being created. No different Premier League goalkeeper made greater than two. When he isn’t launching the ball along with his palms, Raya is utilizing his toes with an analogous stage of precision.

“I adore it,” he says. “It is one of many components of being a goalkeeper I take pleasure in essentially the most, particularly enjoying for Arsenal. We want that further participant to get that safety straight from the again.

“I like being a part of the build-up, being a part of attempting to create objectives and to create assaults.

“It is enjoyable. I benefit from the problem. I do know there are going to be errors and objectives conceded due to it, as a result of that is the way in which we play. However that is the danger that we take and that is the danger that the supervisor desires us to take. The profit is greater than the danger, I feel.”

Arsenal’s sturdy foundations

Raya acknowledges life at Arsenal is made simpler by the presence of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in entrance of him. The pair are a formidable centre-back duo. Like Raya, they performed an essential function in Arsenal’s excellent defensive shows final time period.

“Pfff,” he says, puffing out his cheeks on the point out of them, as if uncertain the place to start out. “They’re so sturdy and the connection they’ve between them is unimaginable,” says Raya. “They each know the place the opposite one is in each scenario, in order that they have one another’s backs.

“And so they’re so intelligent, each of them, contemplating they’re comparatively younger. I do know Wilo is a bit youthful than Gabriel, however they’re each comparatively younger and the positions they take up on the pitch to keep away from stuff occurring are unimaginable.”

Arsenal’s defensive unit has been additional bolstered by the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori, a £42m signing from Bologna whose full-blooded enjoying model has already made an impression on Raya.

“To begin with, he is an important man,” he says. “He is younger, solely 22, and he is hungry. By way of soccer, he is an important participant who has an important future. He can play left-back, he can play left centre-back. So, the primary impression has been actually, actually good.

“He’s very, very sturdy,” Raya provides with a smile. “He goes for the tackles. He simply goes for it. He would put his head in a washer, if you recognize what I am saying. However the primary factor is that he is an important man in addition to an important participant.”

Raya’s team-mates, particularly these carrying England colors again in Berlin final month, would probably say the identical about him. After a dizzying 12 months, during which some, however not all, of his desires have been fulfilled, it’s time for him and Arsenal to go once more.

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