Mikel Arteta has made it clear that David Raya is going nowhere, joking that the Arsenal goalkeeper can play in Spain “on the beach with his friends in the summer” after Raya admitted he would love to try La Liga one day.
Raya has spent his entire professional career in England, and in an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca he was asked whether he had any ambition to play in his home country. His answer was honest, and Arteta was quick to respond to it.
The Gunners are the Premier League champions, they have a clear No.1 between the posts, and the manager is in no mood to start talking about exits.
David Raya La Liga: what did Raya say?
Raya told Marca: “Yes, I would love to. I would love to try out La Liga. For now, I’m very happy here [at Arsenal], but I would certainly like to experience the Spanish league. I think it’s a very competitive league. Perhaps, in the future, I could play for a Spanish club. I’m Spanish and I’d love to play there, that’s for sure.”
That is a long-term wish, not a transfer request. He stressed that he is happy at Arsenal for now, and his contract runs until 2028.
Arteta’s response to Raya’s La Liga comments
When Arteta was asked about the interview, he kept it light but left no room for doubt. “I think David has to play in Spain at some point, on the beach with his friends in the summer but for the next few years he needs to play here for Arsenal,” the Arsenal manager said.
The message is simple: Raya is central to the plan for the years ahead. His performances helped fire the Gunners to their first Premier League title in 22 years last season, and he also helped Arsenal reach the Champions League final in Budapest.
How David Raya became Arsenal’s No.1
Raya was born in Catalonia but moved to Lancashire at 16, joining Blackburn Rovers on scholarship terms. He played 98 times for Rovers’ first team after a loan spell with non-League Southport, before signing for Brentford in 2019.
Arsenal signed him from Brentford for £27m, an initial loan that became permanent, and he ousted Aaron Ramsdale to take the No.1 shirt. We have also looked at the goalkeeper waiting behind Raya, and what Kai Havertz said about Raya being the best in the world.
He did not play, but he was part of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad in North America. Speaking on the Beyond The Box Podcast, the 31-year-old recently praised Blackburn goalkeeping coach John Keeley for taking a chance on him. “He took me to Portugal with the first team when I was 17, for no reason. I think he saw something in me that not all the people saw,” Raya said.
What next for Raya at Arsenal?
On Monday, Raya is expected to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London after being nominated for the Yashin Trophy. Before that, Arsenal host Everton, and our Arsenal predicted lineup vs Everton piece looks at who starts without Bukayo Saka.
Author Opinion
This is a storm in a teacup. Plenty of players say they would like to try another league one day, and Raya was careful to say he is happy in N5. Arteta’s beach line was the perfect way to close it down. With a contract to 2028 and a title medal in the cabinet, the Gunners have their No.1 for the next few years, and La Liga can wait.
