Arteta jokes Raya can play in Spain 'on the beach' after La Liga comments
David Raya has revealed he would love to test himself in La Liga one day, and Mikel Arteta has responded with a cheeky but pointed message about the goalkeeper's long term future at Arsenal.
Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca, Raya was asked whether he harboured ambitions to play in his homeland having spent his entire professional career in England. His answer was unambiguous.
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"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," Raya said. "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."
When Arteta was quizzed on those comments, he offered a light hearted but firm response that made his stance on Raya's immediate future clear. "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 boss said.
Raya's rise at Arsenal
Born in Catalonia, Raya moved to Lancashire with Blackburn Rovers on scholarship terms at just 16 years old. After a loan spell at Non-League side Southport, he made 98 first team appearances for Rovers before joining Brentford in 2019.
His move to Arsenal arrived as an initial loan that became a permanent £27million transfer, and he has since gone on to oust Aaron Ramsdale as the club's first choice goalkeeper. Raya is under contract until 2028 and was a key figure as Arsenal won their first Premier League title in 22 years last season, while also helping the club reach the Champions League final in Budapest.
His form has not gone unnoticed internationally either. He was part of Spain's World Cup winning squad in North America, and is set to attend Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony in London after being nominated for the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper in the world.
Crediting his coach
Reflecting on his journey to the top of the game, Raya recently paid tribute to Blackburn goalkeeping coach John Keeley during an appearance on the Beyond The Box Podcast. "I don't know what, but he saw something in me since the first day," Raya said. "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. He put a lot of work into me, and he was one of the reasons I went on loan, why I made my debut, why I started the following season as number one. He believed in me and I always have a lot to thank him for. Without him, I don't think I would have made my debut."
With two years still to run on his current deal and his status as Arsenal's undisputed number one secure, any move to La Liga appears firmly a conversation for the future rather than the present.
