David Raya: Arsenal's Sensational Goalkeeper Acquisition - Shocking Loan Deal Value Revealed!

Arsenal hope to conclude a deal for Brentford keeper David Raya in the next 48 hours.

The deal will see Arsenal sign Raya on loan for £3m with an option to buy for £27m.

Brentford have secured Raya's contract for another year, safeguarding his value in case the option is not exercised. With his previous deal about to expire, Raya will now vie with Aaron Ramsdale for the coveted No 1 position. To be eligible for Arsenal's opening Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the Spaniard must be officially registered by 12 noon on Friday.

Brentford have already signed a new goalkeeper in Mark Flekken, who joined for £11m from Freiburg in June.

Why did Arsenal go for Raya?

Arsenal's goalkeeping coach Inaka Cana is a key aspect of the club's long-term interest in Raya.

Cana, former goalkeeping coach at Brentford, greatly influenced Raya's move to the Bees from Blackburn in the summer of 2019. Hailing from Barcelona, both Cana and Raya share the same birthplace, and Cana has closely monitored Raya's development since his days as a youth player at Cornella, a smaller local team.

Raya has praised Cana multiple times, particularly in light of Arsenal's renewed interest in him in 2021.

"He has been incredibly helpful to me," Raya expressed. "On the field, he displays a distinct persona - incredibly diligent and resilient. I believe any goalkeeper who has had the opportunity to work with him would concur."

"You gain extensive knowledge, he keeps you constantly alert, and he never allows you to lower your standards. He expects maximum effort in every single exercise, settling for anything less than 110 percent is not acceptable. Falling behind is out of question if you give just 80 percent, it is simply unattainable."

Cana and Arsenal are understood to believe Raya fits the way Mikel Arteta's team play especially with his passing ability playing out from the back.

Who will be first choice - Raya or Ramsdale?

We News senior reporter Melissa Reddy:

When the deal for David Raya is completed, Arsenal will not have a designated first-choice goalkeeper. Mikel Arteta and Edu have implemented a recruitment strategy this summer aimed at fostering increased competition for starting positions in the squad. Strengthening this particular area was identified as crucial for Arsenal to establish themselves as genuine title contenders and address their historical weaknesses.

The strategy has been conveyed to both new acquisitions and current players in the team - this includes Raya and Aaron Ramsdale. It can also be exemplified through the situations of Declan Rice and Thomas Partey. There was a general belief that Partey would be sold after Arsenal's record-breaking signing of Rice, however, this contradicted Arteta's intentions.

The manager has specifically informed players that he expects them to fiercely compete against each other in every position if they wish to consistently triumph in significant competitions.

"It is understood that Ramsdale has welcomed the challenge of competing with Raya and believes it will push both goalkeepers to elevate their game."

Ramsdale's message to Raya: Bring it On

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Arsenal's current number one goalkeeper is Aaron Ramsdale, who has held the position for two years since replacing Bernd Leno at the Emirates in 2021. However, there is a chance that Ramsdale may lose his spot with the arrival of Raya.

Ramsdale expressed his enthusiasm for facing new competition in goal, stating, "I welcome the challenge. It's common knowledge that success in football requires hard work and adaptation. Having been in the position of moving to different clubs before, I understand that this is just a part of the game."

If it occurs, we will face it head-on and in doing so, we will elevate ourselves to become the optimal versions of who we can be. Our manager echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of mutual growth.

Irrespective of whether it is me, Matt [Turner], or anyone else in the lineup, any personal discouragement will dissipate as our primary focus becomes the team's success and the well-being of our goalkeeper.

Analysis: Raya's rise from non-league to one of Premier League's best

Last season, Raya stood out as the most utilized goalkeeper, with both his team-mates and opposition players relying on him heavily. He excelled in his role, facing the highest number of shots, making a remarkable number of saves, securing the second-most crosses, demonstrating superior ball control through more touches, and completing the highest number of passes among all top-flight goalkeepers.

However, we have noticed a distinct resemblance in the way Arsenal and Brentford construct their play from the defensive line, where Cana plays a crucial role for both teams. Interestingly, their strategies for goal kicks are remarkably similar.

To shed light on Raya's remarkable journey from non-league club Southport to the prestigious Premier League, we reached out to some of his previous coaches.

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