Exclusive: David Raya pinpoints what’s ‘going to make a big difference’ in Arsenal’s bid for UEFA Champions League glory ahead of Athletic Club tie

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David Raya has identified what is going to make a "big difference" as Arsenal look to go one better than their UEFA Champions League semi-final defeat of the 2024/25 season. Raya starred in goal for The Gunners, keeping six clean sheets as the London side reached the semi-final stage for the first time in 16 years. They kick-start their 2025/26 campaign with a trip to Bilbao.

‘We have a hell of a team’ – Raya on Arsenal squad depth and battling for trophies on all fronts

Video credit: TNT Sports

David Raya highlighted what is going to make a "big difference" as Arsenal look to claim their first UEFA Champions League title.

The Gunners were only beaten by finalists Internazionale and Paris Saint-Germain last season, as they reached the semi-finals for the first time since 2009.

Raya played a starring role for Mikel Arteta’s side, keeping six clean sheets throughout the campaign, including against eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in the league stage and against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

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Arsenal were beaten 3-1 by PSG in the semi-finals, and although Raya admits there is still a "little bit of pain" when discussing it, he also insists the squad have learned a lot from that defeat – something he feels could make the difference this time round.

"We had the chances to win the tie and to get through to the final, but it wasn’t meant to be, so obviously with a little bit of pain and a lot of pride to reach the semi-final," he told TNT Sports.

'We really want it' - Arteta shares his perspective on Arsenal's expectations for the season

Video credit: TNT Sports

"Especially that it was the second year that we were in the Champions League and to do so well after so many years that we didn’t make it, it was incredible.

"We have a hell of a group, we have a hell of a team and for this year, we are one more year mature and that is going to make a big difference as well.

"We want to aim high and we want to do better than last year in every single aspect and that is why we play football, that is why we play for Arsenal, that is what we are, we want to win and that is what we play for."

Arsenal returned to the top table of European football for the first time after a six-year hiatus in the 2023/24 season, reaching the quarter-finals before losing 3-2 to Bayern Munich.

That was a campaign that Raya felt was almost a trial run for what was to come, with so many members of the squad inexperienced at tasting Champions League football.

How the UEFA Champions League works - format explained and changes through the years

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"When we played the first year in the Champions League, there weren’t many Champions League appearances in the group and not every player played in the Champions League.

"One was me and there were a lot of players that had not played in the Champions League, so you need to get used to it as well and playing every three days.

"That takes time to adapt and the maturity to know how different is the Premier League to the Champions League and we needed that.

"We showed really good character [in the] first year and we were better [in] the second year, so hopefully we can show a little bit more this year."

Arteta praises summer recruitment to avoid 'difficult position'

Against PSG in the semi-finals last season, Arsenal were without a recognised striker and were also missing crucial centre-back Gabriel for both legs.

This season, injuries have again been a major talking point already for Arteta’s side, who have already seen Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Kai Havertz sidelined.

But a big summer drive to add genuine depth to the squad sees Arsenal stronger all over the pitch, with Noni Madueke starring in Saka’s absence and Cristhian Mosquera proving to be a very able deputy indeed to the injured Saliba.

Add in the talent of Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze and Arsenal look like a side capable of challenging on all fronts, even with the number of injuries they have faced so early on.

Arteta is unsurprisingly very pleased with the squad Arsenal have assembled, but admits they may have looked a little bare had they not spent big in the summer.

"We have a lot of players injured at the moment, we have Gabriel Jesus, we have Kai [Havertz], we have Ben White, we have Martin Odegaard, we have Bukayo Saka, we have a lot there," the Arsenal manager said.

"So, thank God that we have done the recruitment in the summer, because if not we would have been in a really difficult position.

Arteta: Arsenal ‘would have been in a really difficult position’ without summer signings

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"I am really happy with the squad that we have, the balance, the type of personalities that we have, the capacity that we have to change and be versatile and play in different ways, I am very happy with that.

"The requirements the players have right now and the standards that we need right now, require different things and in this moment if you don’t have players that can really do different things, it is not going to be enough and thank god now that we have some very good options."

Arsenal begin their 2025/26 Champions League campaign at the Estadio de San Mames against Athletic Club, and you can watch the game live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

'We really want it' - Arteta shares his perspective on Arsenal's expectations for the season

Video credit: TNT Sports

How to watch Athletic Club vs Arsenal

Athletic Club vs Arsenal will be live on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+.

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You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

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For the latest information on which football matches are on TNT Sports, click here.

Here is the TNT Sports schedule and TV guide. And for the full Premier League schedule, click here

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