'I've spent 14 years preparing for this' – Raya ready for Arsenal's trophy pursuit

David Raya believes he has "spent 14 years working and preparing" for the final stages of Arsenal's trophy pursuit this season.

The Gunners currently lead the way in the Premier League, while they face Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Raya first moved to England in 2014, joining Blackburn Rovers before completing a transfer to Brentford in 2019.

The 30-year-old helped Brentford earn promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history in 2021 and went on to join Arsenal two years later.

Raya is now on course to win his third consecutive Golden Glove award, having kept 16 clean sheets in the league so far this season.

The Spaniard now feels prepared to help Arsenal in the last part of the season, having matured during his time so far in England.

"I haven't just spent the last year preparing to compete for the Premier League and the Champions League; I've spent 14 years working and preparing for this," Raya told Universo Valdano.

"The sense of maturity and the lessons I've learned here – not just professionally but personally, too – are things I wouldn't have experienced in Spain.

"Perhaps I'd be a different person, or think differently, because the way I am is largely down to how my parents raised me, but also very much down to what I've learned during these 14 years abroad."

Unbeaten in their last 12 (W10 D2), Arsenal are one game away from equalling their longest ever run without a defeat in the European Cup/Champions League, which was 13 games between March 2005 and April 2006.

In the 22 Champions League games that Raya, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhees have started together, Arsenal have only conceded 11 goals (0.5 per game) and kept a clean sheet on 13 occasions (59%).

They face Atleti in their semi-final first leg on Wednesday, and Raya is not underestimating the Spanish side.

"We know that Atletico are a great team; it's going to be a very tough match in Madrid," added the Arsenal goalkeeper.

"We have to show that Arsenal are here to fight for a place in the final."