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 pay £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 Arsenal, to be called up to the national team for the European Championship, and 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.’