David Raya enjoyed a stunning 2025/26 having helped Arsenal win the Premier League title before claiming the World Cup with Spain but the Spanish goalkeeper isn't quite satisfied yet

David Raya insists Arsenal have got “extra confidence” to win with even more style. Gunners keeper Raya admits the whole dressing room felt “relief” at the end of last season to finally deliver the club’s first Premier League title in 22 years.

And now the shackles are off, they have given a glimpse of their potential by making a perfect start to the defence of their title after three straight wins while they also thumped title rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield.

Arsenal enjoyed glowing praise for the way they played against Chelsea and Raya says that partly comes from being able to relax and take belief from being crowned champions in May.

They were labelled Set Piece FC last season and yet now are playing with style and flair as they also begin to look to embark on their Champions League campaign with a trip to Napoli this week.

Raya said: “Of course, winning the league after that many years and after those years that you are so close, it gives you that relief and it gives you that extra confidence.

“Coming from the three games, especially the Community Shield, winning against Manchester City, the way we played, that gives you extra motivation and extra confidence to play the way we want to play.

“And of course, winning the title last year is a lift to make these fans happy. These people around the club are really happy. So hopefully, we can keep playing this way because we know how good we are.

“We know we can beat anybody in this league. Let's just focus on the moment and be in the present. And I just want more from me.

“But last season is gone. That's gone. That doesn't matter now. We have to be focused on this season. We want to keep improving, keep being ourselves, keep enjoying playing football, and keep giving happiness to our fans. So that's the most important thing that we have to think about. Going step by step, living the present, and just focus on us.”

Raya was beaten for the first time this season when Chelsea scored after just 77 seconds when Morgan Rogers fired past the Arsenal keeper.

That ended Raya’s run as the king of clean sheets but the perfectionist in him means that he took it as a real personal affront.

Raya said: “I think there's things to improve in that goal. I think we had to defend a little bit better, especially right at the start of the game. Disappointed to concede that goal, but the main thing is the reaction that we had after it and the way we played.

“The way we dominated, the way we attacked, we defend. I think we know how good they are, how good Chelsea is, especially in transitions and the way the play is dragged back to the fan. It's really important. So hopefully we can carry on like this and win football matches.”

Raya also picked out the performances of Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard - who both missed chunks of last season through injury - as other reasons why they will be better this season.

Raya said: “I think how good these two are, but not just these two. I think the whole team, the whole squad, not just the starting eleven. I think the people on the bench and the people left out.

“They’re really, really important for us, and everybody is going to be really, really important throughout this season. No matter if you are starting now or you are on the bench.

“So that's a quality thing that we have. We have great quality players and great quality people around. So that's going to be really important for this season.”

That also leaves Raya believing Arsenal can go one step further in the Champions League after they lost to Paris Saint Germain in the final last season.

They start against Napoli in the league phase and he said: “Playing in the Champions League is something really, really special. We've been improving every single year in the Champions League, especially so many years without playing it.

"I think since we came back to the competition, we've been enjoying it. Which is the most important thing. Enjoying the competition is the biggest club competition that we can play for.

“So we just have to be ourselves, and enjoy the moment. Enjoy every single game, and we will see where we are at the end. So just try to be better than last year. That's all.”