“This guy keeps amazing me every day and I want all our fans to help me applaud me”- Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya says £20M Arsenal star has actually been unbelievable recently in training
Even though Arsenal will be looking to find better back up for David Raya this summer, the Spaniard remains Mikel Arteta’s firm number one.
Raya quickly displaced Aaron Ramsdale after signing for Arsenal in 2023 and he’s now established himself among the Premier League’s best, if not Europe as well.
In his club career Raya is yet to win a major honour, something he’ll certainly be hoping to do alongside Arteta in the near future.
Of course, a big opportunity for Arsenal to do so exists in the Champions League – a competition you’d rarely imagine winning without a striker.
But with Mikel Merino playing as an auxiliary number nine, Arteta’s team do seem equipped to go all the way to May’s final.
David Raya praises Jakub Kiwior’s efforts behind the scenes
That being said, Jakub Kiwior will be a fixture in Arsenal’s defence if they are to go all the way to next month’s final in Germany.
Gabriel Magalhaes is out for the remainder of the season owing to injury and Arteta has trusted Kiwior to partner William Saliba at the back.
Kiwior impressed against Kylian Mbappe in the first leg of their tie with Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium last week, a big test of the Poland international’s nerve.
And when looking ahead to the second leg in Spain, Raya praised Kiwior at Arsenal’s press conference, admitting that he wasn’t too surprised about his performance.
Raya said: “I was impressed because I know how good Jakub is, and I’m very convinced and confident with him, stepping in after the big injury that Gabi sustained against Fulham.
“I wasn’t surprised about his performance, I thought he was very, very good, and we know how good he is, he shows in training every day, so I was very, very happy with his performance, because that gives him confidence, but like I said, I wasn’t too surprised.”
Kiwior still wants to leave Arsenal
Of course, the sub-plot to all of Kiwior’s success is the fact that he’s still planning to leave north London once the summer arrives.
Kiwior wants to leave Arsenal as he can’t realistically see Gabriel and Saliba’s partnership being broken when both are fit.
And in truth, it is hard to argue with the £20m defender’s logic — if he wants to start every week he does need to leave Arsenal.
Perhaps as a result, Arsenal are interested in Jorrel Hato at Ajax, a player who Jurrien Timber knows very well.
And whilst Arsenal might use Oleksandr Zinchenko in a swap deal, perhaps Kiwior will simply head back to Italy for a small profit.