\n<\/p>\n
Raya returned to Blackburn and made appearances in the Championship, but had to wait until the club’s relegation to League One to become first choice in 2017.<\/p>\n
He proved instrumental for Rovers, instantly helping them to return to the second tier.<\/p>\n
Jayson Leutwiler was back-up goalkeeper to Raya at Blackburn and saw the match-winning saves that have become so regular during the Spaniard’s time at Arsenal.<\/p>\n
“He was able to make saves that would make you think, ‘wow this is a shot that one out of 10 times he would have saved it’,” said the former Canada international.<\/p>\n
“But when it happens four, five or six times over the season, that’s just not a coincidence.”<\/p>\n
Leutwiler played across England’s lower football leagues and believes playing at that level has great advantages to developing goalkeepers.<\/p>\n
“You get exposed to smaller crowds, you get exposed to different pressures, they are difficult leagues, it’s more physical, you have to adapt a bit more,” added the 37-year-old.<\/p>\n
“You could go to a great football pitch on a Saturday and the weekend after the conditions aren’t as great, maybe a smaller crowd and it only helps you to be more resilient when it gets to a bigger game at any level.”<\/p>\n
Raya was then signed by Brentford for \u00a33m in 2019, before Arsenal completed a \u00a327m deal five years later, after a loan spell.<\/p>\n
From that disappointing debut at Macclesfield, he has gone on to shine for club and country – being part of Spain’s victorious 2024 Euros squad and helping Arsenal win the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.<\/p>\n
Now the Gunners, and Raya, will cap a dream double if they overcome PSG in Budapest, and leave his old colleagues proud of his achievements.<\/p>\n
Carden said: “He had that confidence and that determination, but it didn’t stop him from being a good team-mate.<\/p>\n
“Everybody who crossed paths with him at his time at Southport is delighted. It is a real credit to him.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think anyone could have written that tale, which is why it’s such a good one.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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