At a Glance:
- Mikel Arteta reveals who persuaded Arsenal to sign David Raya on loan.
- Arteta was questioned about his decision to bring Raya in.
- What Mikel Arteta predicted about Raya that came true.
When Arsenal initially signed David Raya on a season-long loan deal from Brentford in 2023, eyebrows were raised as Aaron Ramsdale had proven to be a reliable number one for the Gunners until then.
However, the Spaniard has gone on to be a revelation for Mikel Arteta’s side, with Leandro Trossard lauding Raya’s displays by naming him as the side’s “unsung hero” this season.
The 30-year-old has managed to silence his doubters at the Emirates Stadium, as he can now call himself a Premier League champion.
Raya has arguably been Arsenal’s best player this term but Mikel Arteta revealed it was a challenge to persuade the board to sign him on loan.
Mikel Arteta reveals Edu Gaspar persuaded Arsenal to sign David Raya
Arteta initially told The Overlap that in his eyes, it was key for Arsenal to replace Ramsdale with Raya.
“That’s a good example of what a manager needs. So, I was very convinced that we have to make a change but not because Aaron didn’t have the quality, because I believe we need to go to the next level with a different profile of goalkeeper.”
Raya has been instrumental to Arsenal’s success but at the time, Edu Gaspar questioned Mikel Arteta about whether is willing to take the risk to bring his fellow countryman to N17.
“And it was very difficult to explain, upstairs, internally. It could maybe not make sense and that’s why you need a sporting director, in this case, it was Edu to say ‘Mikel, are you 100 per cent sure?’ And I went through him again and again but, ‘You know we’re going to have an issue.’ I know. ‘You’re going to expose yourself.’ I know. ‘You really want to do this?’ Yes, please.”
However, Mikel Arteta revealed that Edu is the only who ultimately convinced Arsenal’s board to land Raya.
“And Edu really convinced the board as well and they need to be convinced because I understand, it’s not Mikel says this, ‘okay, let’s do this.’ It doesn’t work like this. And then it has to work and Inaki [Cana] played a pivotal role because he knew him from Brentford and many years.”
Mikel Arteta shares David Raya predictions that came true
It is easy to see why Mikel Arteta has given Edu credit as Raya has especially thrived in Arsenal’s title-winning season.
As per Squawka, the former Blackburn Rovers star equalled David Seaman’s record for the most clean sheets in a league campaign for the club (19).
Most clean sheets in a Premier League season for Arsenal:
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 25, 2026
◎ 19 – David Seaman (1993/94)
◎ 19 – David Seaman (1998/99)
◉ 19 – David Raya (2025/26) 🆕
A third consecutive Premier League Golden Glove for the Spainiard. 🏆🏆🏆 https://t.co/JUsQ0PJ2op pic.twitter.com/JQ2j3Fi4Oh
Seaman’s tallies in the 1993/1994 and 1998/1999 seasons had not been matched by any Gunners goalkeeper until the former Brenford shotstopper.
Mikel Arteta also revealed that while he did not know whether Raya would succeed at Arsenal, he had no question marks about the goalkeeper’s work ethic and how he would represent the club before he even put pen to paper.
“What I was sure is, I don’t know if it’s going to work or not but David is going to present himself and dedicate himself to the cause and he’s going to be an incredible ambassador for the club. That was sure.”
