Arsenal 28yo speaks out as club prepare to activate contract option | OneFootball

David Raya insists he wants to stay at Arsenal, with reports suggesting the Gunners have already decided to activate his purchase clause.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, and David Raya of Arsenal embrace at full-time after victory in the penalty shoot out following the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Porto at Emirates Stadium on March 12, 2024. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Officially, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya is only on loan with the club from Brentford, with an option to make his deal permanent in the summer.

But reports have long suggested that the Gunners intend to activate that option, and Fabrizio Romano writes in his Daily Briefing that “the deal will happen” as was “all planned since months ago”.

Raya is yet to confirm that the move is happening, but he’s certainly hinting that he wants it.

“I would love to be at Arsenal next season and, if that’s the case, it would be amazing, a dream come true to sign for this club,” Raya said this week.

LONDON, ENGLAND: David Raya of Arsenal makes the match-winning save from the fourth penalty from Galeno of FC Porto (not pictured) in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Porto at Emirates Stadium on March 12, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

“I don’t want to think too much about the future,” Raya added. “It’s not up to me. It’s up to the club and Mikel.

“If my performances have been good enough, hopefully, they will offer me a contract.”

Yet according to Romano, all that is lacking is the signature to make things official, which will presumably come soon, now that the season is over.

LONDON, ENGLAND: David Raya of Arsenal celebrates after teammate Gabriel Martinelli scores his team’s fourth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on January 20, 2024. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Raya kept 20 clean sheets in 41 matches for Arsenal this season, just a little under 50% of his appearances for the club. It’s little wonder he won the Premier League Golden Glove.

The goalkeeper’s clean sheet record is about more than just his personal performances, of course. Arsenal have been very strong as a defensive unit this season, and credit has to go to the likes of William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and the rest as well.

But most of the defence were already playing for Arsenal in 2022/23, and Aaron Ramsdale didn’t win the Golden Glove behind them.

Raya’s played his part in taking the backline to another level, and it looks like he’ll be rewarded with a permanent deal.