Article by Mihai Șovei – Published Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 3:22 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 3:23 p.m.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya (30) has said that his 14 years in England have prepared him for the challenges of this season, where the Londoners are fighting for the title and the Champions League.
Tomorrow, from 22:00, in Madrid, the team will face Atletico in the first leg of the semi-finals of the Champions League.
David Raya: “We have to show that Arsenal are here to fight for a place in the final”
Having become the main man in Arsenal's goal, David Raya spoke about the difficult period that the “gunners” are preparing to go through. He spoke just before the Champions League semi-final round match against Atletico Madrid.
“I didn't just spend the last year preparing for the Premier League and the Champions League. I worked 14 years to prepare for this.
Against Luton in my first season at Arsenal, I played the worst game of my career. Since then I have made some changes in my life and things have improved,” said Raya, according to sportal.bg.
David Raya also spoke about tomorrow's match against Atletico Madrid.
“We know Atletico are a great team, it will be a very difficult game in Madrid. We have to show that Arsenal are here to fight for a place in the final.”
The Spaniard also spoke about the start of his career in England. He left Spain aged just 17 to join Blackburn's youth team.
“If I had stayed in Spain, it would have been extremely difficult for me to reach the level I am at now. I came to the conclusion that if I hadn't gone to England so young, I would rather have worked in the family business.
The growth and lessons I've learned, not just professionally but personally, I wouldn't have experienced in Spain. I probably would have been a different person, I would have thought differently,” he added, according to the aforementioned source.
David Raya
Arsenal are pushing for their second Champions League final. The Londoners also managed to qualify for the last leg of the competition in 2006, but were defeated by FC Barcelona 1-2.
For a place in the final act of the competition, Arteta's side will play against Atletico Madrid, the team that knocked out FC Barcelona. The tour is played in Madrid tomorrow, while the return leg is scheduled for next week in London.
If they qualify for the final in Budapest, the “gunners” will meet PSG or Bayern Munich in the last act of the competition.
