David Raya insists he has a ‘very good’ relationship with Aaron Ramsdale – Citi Sports Online

David Raya has stressed the fact he has a ‘very healthy’ relationship with Aaron Ramsdale despite replacing him as the first-choice goalkeeper at Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta signed Raya on a season-long loan deal from Brentford during the summer window after stating he wanted more in-house competition for places.

Ramsdale maintained his place between the sticks for Arsenal’s first four Premier League games, but fell down the pecking order in September.

Raya – who could join Arsenal permanently next season if the Gunners paid £27million – was selected over the English goalkeeper for their trip to Everton.

Arteta has continued to select Raya over Ramsdale, with the 25-year-old last appearance coming against Brentford in the Carabao Cup.

However, Raya – who has been given the nod for Arsenal’s Champions League fixtures against PSV Eindhoven and RC Lens – insists they’re still ‘good mates’.

Speaking to The Athletic, Raya said: ‘The relationship? (Between himself and Ramsdale) It’s very good.

‘At the end of the day, we are mates, which is the important thing. We have a very healthy relationship. There are no problems.

‘We push each other every day in training: when he’s a little bit down, I push him, and when I’m a little bit down (he does the same).

‘We train three goalkeepers, four at the most, for hours a week, and you need that kind of relationship because otherwise, the training is not going to go well.

‘I don’t like to look to the future, I like to look at the day-to-day… but the perfect end would be to win a title with Arsenalto be called up to the national team for the European Championshipand to have a good tournament.’

When asked about what his future holds, Raya said: ‘Right now, I don’t have it in mind. Would I like to play in La Liga? Yes, of course… but at the moment I’m at Arsenal, I’m very happy, and we’ll see what happens in the next few years.’