David Raya has admitted Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat left him “broken inside” as he reflected on the pain of losing to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.
The Arsenal goalkeeper spoke from Spain’s World Cup camp in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he is competing with Unai Simon and Joan Garcia for the national team’s No.1 shirt. His comments came in a fresh interview with The Guardian’s Sid Lowe, published on Saturday.
Raya described the emotional swing from Arsenal’s Champions League heartbreak in Budapest to the club’s Premier League trophy parade, saying the final defeat hurt because Mikel Arteta’s side had come so close to ending their long wait for European glory.
Raya turns Arsenal pain into World Cup perspective
The 30-year-old said the sight of supporters at the Emirates helped him regain perspective after a brutal night, with Arsenal’s league title and clear Champions League progress giving him reason to believe they can return stronger next season.
His Spain situation adds another layer. Raya did not start the opening draw against Cape Verde despite winning a third straight Golden Glove and helping Arsenal to the Premier League title, but he insisted competition between goalkeepers is healthy.
For Arsenal fans, the interview is a reminder of how central Raya has become to Arteta’s side. His response to both club disappointment and international uncertainty suggests a player still carrying the hurt, but already framing it as fuel for the next step.
