"Very happy": Mikel Arteta says Arsenal first tried to sign £27m star in 2021

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that the club initially tried to sign goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford in the summer of 2021.

The Spain international joined the Gunners on a season-long loan from the Bees in August 2023, and the move was made permanent for £27 million last year.

Raya has proved a brilliant acquisition for the Gunners. He has won the Premier League Golden Glove in the last two seasons and could replicate the feat this term.

Speaking in the pre-match presser before the Brentford game, Arteta described Raya as an amazing goalkeeper and added that he could have arrived much earlier.

The Spanish tactician revealed that the club failed with an initial approach for Raya, and he had to wait for another two years. He is ‘very happy’ to have him in the squad.

Arteta said: “An amazing goalkeeper. It’s a great story as well, and how it happened.

“We tried to sign David much earlier, it was as soon as I arrived almost, and he had to wait another two years.

“The start that he had and the journey that we had together has been phenomenal for us and I’m very happy to have him.”

Arsenal had their sights on landing the Spaniard in the summer of 2021. He had a £10 million release clause, which would have been triggered if the Bees failed to secure promotion from the Championship.

However, Brentford returned to the top-flight with a 2-0 win over Swansea City in the play-off final, which nullified the clause. Raya was also content to continue with the west London side.

Raya started the Bees’ maiden Premier League game against Arsenal, which they won (2-0). The Gunners eventually purchased Aaron Ramsdale from Sheffield United instead. He replaced Bernd Leno.

Ramsdale had two good seasons with the Gunners, but the arrival of long-term target Raya in 2023 paved the way for another change between the sticks, which has proved successful.

Since the defeat to Brentford back in 2021, Arsenal have met the west London outfit on six occasions. They have won six of those meetings, with a couple ending in draws.

Raya has kept seven clean sheets in the league this season. He has failed to manage a shutout in the last three games and will aim to end the streak against his former club tonight.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

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