David Raya has declared that Arsenal have made a “real statement” in the Champions League but has warned his side about their upcoming battle with PSG. The Gunners’ goalkeeper believes that the team are now prepared to “write their own history” by securing the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.
They sent shockwaves through Europe by eliminating 15-time winners Real Madrid, thanks to an incredible aggregate victory of 5-1 over both legs. This not only demonstrated their readiness for Paris Saint Germain in the semi-finals but also dispelled any doubts within the Arsenal camp.
For the first time in 16 years, Arsenal have advanced to a Champions League semi-final and are confident they can make it to the final in Munich on May 31. Arsenal outperformed Real Madrid in every aspect, and despite speculation about a second-leg comeback from the Spanish giants, it was Mikel Arteta‘s squad who delivered one of the most memorable European nights in their history.
Raya stated: “It’s a real statement, it’s great the way we beat Madrid twice and, coming to the Bernabeu, the way we played, the way we defended, and pressing high the way we were very attacking minded.
“It’s been very long since this club was in the semi final but we are here to create our own history and hopefully we can dream and we are going to try everything in our hands to do it. But the main thing is going step by step and staying in the present.
“We knew it was out there because it’s Real Madrid, it’s part of the history. But we said ‘we are here to create our own history’ and that’s what we did, the way we came to the Bernabeu and the way we played, the way we defended, the way we created chances.
“We kept them quiet and in the second half, they created chances and they took one and we took our chances and we won the game and credit to us. It was a very complete match from us and we played very good.”
Arsenal have already triumphed over PSG in the league phase of the Champions League, but Luis Enrique’s squad were depleted due to injuries on that night.
PSG’s star forward Ousmane Dembele had also been at odds with Enrique at that time and wasn’t included in the squad, but he is now fully committed and playing his best football in an attacking line-up.
PSG have knocked out both Liverpool and Aston Villa in this year’s competition, but were beaten over one leg by both English clubs. Raya knows Arsenal are in for a very different, and tough task, this time round.
Raya cautioned: “Yeah we beat them at home but I think PSG now are a different team, they look even better now than what they looked back in the group stage and that’s credit to them.
“They didn’t get easy games either, but for now let’s look to the present and focus on Ipswich and see when it comes to it.”
Arsenal also demonstrated real character in the Bernabeu as Bukayo Saka missed a first-half penalty only to then redeem himself by scoring in the second-half in the win.
Raya also inistsed it highlighted Saka’s mentality and determination to be one of Europe’s top players.
Raya weighed in on the match’s crucial moments, saying: “We scored two goals, even though we missed a penalty in the first half, but these things happen and then Bukayo scores us the first goal and then that gives us the self-confidence to win the game.
“These things happen, mistakes happen, penalties are missed but credit to Bukayo, he stepped up to take the pen and sometimes you score and sometimes you miss but the good thing is that, after, he went one-on-one with Courtois and he scored and that is the main thing.
“That pen I think gave a bit of hope to them but we kept very cool in those situations and we defended very well and they didn’t create many chances.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk