David Raya’s Focus on Arsenal’s Premier League Title Race
David Raya is relishing the pressure of the Premier League title race but has urged Arsenal to stay focused on their own job and not Manchester City’s run-in. The Gunners ensured they would remain at the summit going into May with a 3-2 win at Tottenham on Sunday. It briefly opened up a four-point gap at the top, but Pep Guardiola’s side cut it back to a solitary point with a 2-0 win away to Nottingham Forest later in the day. City crucially have a game in hand over Arsenal, which is at Tottenham on May 14, but Raya laughed off suggestions they would support their rivals.
Staying Focused on Arsenal’s Performance
- Raya emphasized the importance of focusing on the team’s performance rather than external factors.
- He highlighted the need to concentrate on self-improvement and maintaining control over their game.
- Emphasized the significance of every game and the need to prioritize the upcoming matches.
“I don’t want to focus on that. I just want to focus on the team, on us, and focus on next Saturday,” Raya said. “We cannot focus on other teams because you lose your focus on yourself and you don’t start playing the same way. You have to focus on yourself and the team, on what you can control. If you focus on things that you cannot control, things are not going to go well. Every game is important and we have got three games. We have to think about the next game, which is Bournemouth at home.”
Embracing Challenges and Maintaining Composure
- Raya expressed his enjoyment of challenges and his ability to perform under pressure.
- He highlighted the opportunity to showcase his capabilities in high-pressure situations.
- Emphasized the importance of mental strength and resilience in overcoming setbacks.
“I like challenges and I don’t feel under pressure. I feel like that when there is pressure, in the way that you say, it’s an opportunity to show what you are capable of. I am really, really enjoying this challenge.”
Showing Character and Resilience
- Raya demonstrated character by bouncing back from a mistake during the match against Tottenham.
- He emphasized the importance of mental strength and focus in critical moments.
- Highlighted the team’s collective effort and character in securing the victory.
“We had gained control until I made a mistake for the first goal. The last few minutes was a little bit more shaky for the people outside, but for us that’s our job. I really, really enjoyed that challenge to keep the ball out of the net and trying to help the team as much as possible on crosses. We showed great character collectively and it showed on the pitch. I thought I was mentally very strong and I just forgot about the mistake, carried on playing my game and tried to help the team.”
Looking Ahead
The focus for Arsenal now switches to the visit of Bournemouth on Saturday before a trip to Manchester United on May 12th. “It is massive winning this game, especially as it’s the north London derby. I know what it means to the fans, to the club, to the players and it’s incredible,” Raya said. “You have to win away games to be able to push for the title and I think we are showing that. We just have to focus on ourselves now, rest well and prepare for the next game.”
