Arsenal goalkeeper believes the Gunners have what it takes to catch Liverpool in the Premier League title race after narrowing the gap to four points with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Wednesday.
Second-placed Arsenal mounted a stirring fightback after falling behind to Son Heung-min’s early strike. A Dominic Solanke own goal levelled the scores before Leandro Trossard’s decisive goal just before halftime secured the win.
The result was a welcome boost for Mikel Arteta’s side, ending a frustrating three-match winless run across all competitions, which included an FA Cup third-round defeat to Manchester United and a League Cup semi-final first-leg loss to Newcastle.
While Liverpool remain title favourites with a game in hand, Raya remains optimistic about Arsenal’s chances.
“Yes, of course. In football, everything can happen,” Raya said.
“Three weeks ago, people were saying that Liverpool had the title in their hands. But it is just football, and everything changes in two or three matches.
“We have to focus on ourselves, try and win every game, and see where we are at the end of the season. We don’t want to think too far ahead because that will play badly against us. We have to live in the present, that’s the most important thing.”
Arsenal’s title challenge faces added adversity with injuries to key players. Gabriel Jesus has been sidelined indefinitely with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and Bukayo Saka recently underwent hamstring surgery.
Despite these setbacks, Raya expressed confidence in the team’s resilience:
“It was really, really important to come with a big, big mentality. We know how important the derby is, not just for the league, but for the people that follow us.
“We showed very big character throughout the game, especially when we went behind. We were a little bit stunned but after that, we dominated the whole first half.
“We got the rewards with two goals before half-time. I am very happy with the performance, for the lads, and for Gabriel Jesus, too. He has a massive injury. This win is for him.”
Next, Arsenal face Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, aiming to avoid a repeat of last season’s 2-0 home loss to Unai Emery’s side.
“We know how good Aston Villa are. We now just have to recover, train and be ready for Saturday because we know how tough it is going to be,” Raya added.
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