“Our only goal is to make each other better”

On Monday night, after the tie between Everton y Manchester City that depends again on Arsenal depend on yourself, David Raya tied his third Golden Glove of the Premier consecutive. Only 24 hours later, before the Atlético de Madridsealed his ninth clean sheet in this edition of the Champions.

To date, only Edouard Mendy could boast of having such a record in Champions League. It happened in the 20-21 edition, where Thomas Tuchel -arrived mid-season replacing Frank Lampard– made that one Chelsea a ‘rock’ that imposed itself on Manchester City in the final of Port to raise his second ‘Orejona’… con Kepa Arrizabalaga acting as substitute goalkeeper.

Such was the level of Edouard Mendy in that Champions that, beyond those nine clean sheets that he managed to keep, he barely conceded two goals throughout the 12 games he played in that edition. One in the group stage against Renneshis former team, and another in the first leg of the semifinals against Real Madrid in Valdebebas in charge of Karim Benzema. Kepafor its part, played the last group stage match against the Krasnodar and the ‘blue’ team ended up drawing 1-1.

Five years later, the former Athletic He is also acting as a second sword under the sticks of a Arsenal who has reached the final 20 years later. Coincidences of fate, the last time the Gunners reached the final of the Champions (2006 vs. Barcelona) also had a substitute Spanish goalkeeper as Manuel Almunia.

If we had not put the team ahead, it would have been impossible for us to win that final against Manchester City

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Arsenal player

“If we had not put the team ahead, it would have been impossible for us to win that final against the Manchester City“, confessed some time later Kepa Arrizabalagbecause he knew how to understand his role… despite being the most expensive goalkeeper in history. Just as it happened in 2024 when it reached Real Madrid before the injury of Thibaut Courtois or, now, of David Raya in it Arsenal.

After reconnecting with himself in Bournemouth last year, he was fully aware of what his role was going to be in his arrival at the Emirates. “He is a great goalkeeper and we have a very good relationship. We are going to compete, we are going to train together and we are going to share a lot of time with each other. We will compete, as happens in the rest of the team’s positions. Our only objective is to win and make each other better,” he confessed in Kepa in his presentation.

Raya He is fully accustomed to this internal competition. It happened with Ramsdale in its first season and with Neto last year. With Kepait has been even more natural if possible. They had already shared a dressing room in the Selectionwhere they won the Nations League in 2023. “We are good friends and we have a healthy relationship. We both know how hard it is to be a goalkeeper because only one plays. Having competition in each position forces you to improve your level.”

Undisputed holder in Premier y Champions, Raya He was also extremely sympathetic to what happened to Kepa in the final of the Carabao before him Manchester City. “This is part of football. You have to be there to support your teammates,” he said. “After the game, we went to the international break and he stayed here. Then, what happened against Southampton happened. Conversations are unnecessary. You just have to try to be a good teammate.”

This is part of football. You have to be there to support your teammates.

David Raya, Arsenal player

What is clear is that both, in addition to respecting each other professionally, also have a good relationship beyond the field of play. They make each other better and, after ‘tightening the screws’ to Edouard Mendy at the time, now Kepa It is also partly to blame for the legendary Champions who is signing David Raya.