David Raya describes Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain as leaving Raya “broken inside”, despite a landmark Premier League title in 2025-26. The goalkeeper fears another chance to lift the European Cup may never arrive after Arsenal lost on penalties, having been close to a historic double.

Arsenal led PSG 1-0 in normal time before the French side forced a 1-1 draw. The final went to a shoot-out, where Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes missed their attempts. Those errors decided the contest, ending Arsenal’s hopes of matching Manchester United and Manchester City’s title and Champions League double.

The 2025-26 campaign still brought major domestic success. Arsenal ended a 22-year wait to be champions of England, winning the Premier League title under Mikel Arteta. Raya collected the Premier League Golden Glove for a third straight season, highlighting defensive strength across a year that almost delivered a famous league and European combination.

Only two other English clubs had previously combined the Premier League and Champions League in the same season. Manchester United achieved it in 1998-99 and 2007-08, while Manchester City matched the feat in 2022-23. Arsenal were one shoot-out away from joining this group after finally returning to a Champions League final.

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Reflecting on the defeat, Raya explains the psychological impact of such a loss. “The thing is, when you lose a Champions League final, when you get there for the first time in 20 years and then you lose on penalties, it destroys you inside. I left there with my head held high because of the work we had done all year, but I was broken inside because we were so, so, so, so close. You don’t know when you’ll play another one or even if you will play another one.”

The goalkeeper recalls the trip back from Budapest after the final. “When I went home, I was broken. We stayed overnight [in Budapest] and travelled the next morning. That night is very, very hard. The following morning too,” he added. The experience underlined how narrow the margins were at the highest level.

Arsenal Champions League final parade and changing perspective

Raya says the mood shifted when Arsenal returned to north London. “Then you reach the Emirates, you see the fans and that lifts you. When you come out on the bus with the Premier League trophy and see all the people, what it means to them, you realise what you’ve done.” The celebrations reminded players of the season’s broader achievement.

Raya believes looking at the club’s recent history helps to manage the disappointment. “Personally, those were very, very hard moments, but you take a step back and look at it with perspective. You think about the way the club was a few years ago and the way it is now, and that gets a smile out of you. That’s when you think next year we can do better and win the Champions League.”

Arsenal Champions League final conversation with Fabian Ruiz

Raya did not speak to many PSG players immediately after the game, but contact came later with Spain. “I arrived a bit before Fabian. I was saying hello to some of the others in the reception when he arrived. I went to say congratulations; that was almost the first thing I did, Raya told The Guardian.” Both players were joining Spain’s World Cup campaign.

The goalkeeper needed time before that conversation could happen. “I couldn’t really talk after the final; I just didn’t have it in me. The next day we talked about the game properly. Just two mates chatting. I was happy that he could lift the trophy for a second time.” Fabian Ruiz’s success contrasted with Raya’s pain, but respect remained.

Individual errors also shaped the narrative of the shoot-out. Gabriel’s miss stood out statistically as well as emotionally, coming in a high-pressure moment for the defender. His attempt cleared the crossbar, echoing a notable miss from a previous Champions League final, and underlined how small details altered the outcome against PSG.