Having spent the time to get to know our newest Gunners, David Raya believes our summer signings will play a significant role in what he anticipates being a successful 2025/26 season.
We made six additions to our first-team squad during the off-season, and having spent time around them on and off the pitch, our goalkeeper believes they will have a key impact in both areas.
Ahead of our first home game of the season against Leeds United this weekend, the shot-stopper revealed his delight at what has been added to our ranks, as we aim to make it two wins from two to kick off the campaign.
“We know the team has been strengthened and we signed quality players that are going to be massive for the success of this club," he said. “I’m very happy with everyone and I think it’s very easy to integrate into this dressing room.
"We have welcomed them with open arms. We try to be as a group and try to welcome the players as well as possible to settle in as quickly as possible so that they can just focus on football and helping the team."
Two of our arrivals - Martin Zubimendi and Cristhian Mosquera - are playing English football for the first time this season, having swapped their Spanish homeland for the British Isles.
That change of lifestyle is something David knows all too well about following his move to Blackburn Rovers in 2012, and is keen to use the experiences of his journey on these shores to help the duo get to grips with a new culture.
“I think it’s a bit more difficult for people coming from other countries and other leagues than the players that have already been in the Premier League," he explained.
“It’s been nearly 14 years since I moved [to England], so just having, for example, Cristhian and Martin, that’s the first time they've moved from home. We've signed three Spanish players so it’s nice to have those players with us. Having, for example, Kepa [Arrizabalaga], Mikel [Merino] and myself in the dressing room, it’s going to be easy to integrate.
“We just help them as much as possible on and off the pitch, such as things that they need to do for their houses and their cars. We just try to help them as much as possible, so that just makes it a bit quicker to settle in, so that’s very, very important."
