Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has played down suggestions of friction following his high-profile omission from the Carabao Cup final, insisting he holds no “frustration” over Mikel Arteta’s decision to start Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The Spanish international is expected to reclaim his place in the starting XI for Tuesday’s Premier League clash after a two-match absence. Despite being Arsenal’s established number one, Raya watched from the bench at Wembley as the Gunners fell to a narrow defeat against Manchester City.
The selection of Kepa proved a major talking point after the Chelsea loanee’s first-half error gifted City their opening goal. However, speaking ahead of Arsenal’s return to league action, Raya remained steadfast in his support for the coaching staff and his fellow countryman.
“No, it wasn’t frustrating,” Raya said. “It is part of football. Sometimes you get picked and sometimes you don’t. That’s up to the boss. You have to be there for your team and your teammates in this case, Kepa and try to help as much as possible.”
The Wembley disappointment was compounded by a shock league defeat to Southampton, leaving the North London side in desperate need of a momentum shift. With the title race entering its clinical phase, Raya rejected the notion that the squad is buckling under the weight of expectation.
“I don’t think the word is ‘pressure’,” the 28-year-old goalkeeper added. “It was disappointing losing to Southampton, but that has gone. We have to use that fuel and pain to pick it up for the rest of the season. That starts tomorrow.”
The Gunners face a pivotal fixture as they look to bridge the gap at the top of the table. For Raya, the match serves as a necessary reset following a week of scrutiny over Arteta’s goalkeeping rotations.
“It is an opportunity to show who we are and what we are capable of,” Raya concluded. “We have to grab this massive opportunity and win tomorrow’s game.”
Arteta is expected to confirm his lineup an hour before kickoff, but all indications suggest Raya will return to the fold as Arsenal attempts to keep their domestic campaign on track. With the Carabao Cup now in the rearview mirror, the focus in the Emirates camp has shifted entirely to the narrow margins of the Premier League title hunt.