David Raya has given an explanation as to why he chose to swap Brentford for Arsenal on loan, stating that he had to jump at the opportunity.
On Tuesday, the goalkeeper formally signed a season-long loan agreement with the Gunners. According to the data we already have, 5Times believes that the club will have the option to purchase the player outright for £30 million when the loan expires.
Raya attracted a lot of interest throughout the current transfer window, with Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich both keeping an eye on the player. However, they were unwilling to reach Brentford’s asking price, therefore Raya ended up moving to the Emirates Stadium.
In his first interview as an official Arsenal player, Raya explained the transfer to the club’s official website, saying:
“I’m over the moon to be able to face this challenge in my career and make the step up. I can’t wait to start and see how the season turns out. I spoke with the manager, and he provided me with a list of Arsenal’s core beliefs. Given the direction, the club is taking and how much it is expanding, it is a lovely challenge to accept, and I couldn’t say no.”
Raya stated that he has observed Arsenal throughout the years and since Mikel Arteta’s arrival, he has significantly changed the club’s style of play. The biggest reason he thinks he fits into the squad is because of how the team plays out of the back, being confident, and taking possession over the other team they go up against.
He is certain that he will do everything in his power to assist the Gunners. Raya will probably start as Arsenal’s backup goalkeeper, competing with Aaron Ramsdale for Mikel Arteta’s team’s starting position.
