David Raya is backing Arsenal’s attack to trouble Paris Saint-Germain when the sides meet in the Champions League final at the Puskas Arena. Arsenal chase a first European title, two decades after losing the 2005-06 final to Barcelona, while PSG attempt to defend the trophy with a very different style of play.

The goalkeeper expects a demanding night yet believes Arsenal’s belief and structure give Mikel Arteta’s team a real opportunity. Raya sees PSG’s forward line as a major threat, but feels Arsenal’s own options in attack, combined with their defensive record, can decide the contest on 30 May 2026.

PSG arrive with the competition’s most dangerous attack this season, scoring 44 goals, matching Barcelona’s 1999-00 tally for the highest total in a single Champions League campaign. Arsenal have taken a different route, posting the best defensive numbers in this season’s tournament, conceding six goals in 14 matches, an average of 0.43 per game.

That figure is close to the record for teams playing 13 or more matches in one Champions League season, which stands at 0.31 goals per game and is shared by Arsenal’s 2005-06 side and Chelsea’s 2020-21 winners. Arteta’s current team have also scored 23 goals, showing a balance between solid defending and productive attacking play.

Raya has been central to that stability, keeping nine clean sheets on the road to Budapest. No goalkeeper has ever reached 10 shutouts in one Champions League campaign, but Raya’s consistency already places this season among the strongest by any goalkeeper in the competition’s history, underlining the platform behind Arsenal’s run to the final.

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Raya accepts that PSG’s attacking depth means he will likely be heavily involved. “We know how good they are. Any player can hurt you from anywhere, so I know it’s going to be a busy evening,” Raya said in an interview with CNN. “If we do things well, we defend how we know how to defend, and then, with the ball we are the way we want to play. I think we have a big chance to hurt them and score a lot more goals than them. That’s the message. We have to think that we are going to win the Champions League because we’re super convinced of what we’re capable of. If we do what we have to do, we have a big chance to win.”

Arsenal have highlighted the scale of the occasion on their official channels, stressing that the Champions League final is the decisive moment in a season that already delivered the Premier League title. It all leads to the meeting with PSG that will define how this campaign is remembered by supporters and players alike.

Raya’s performances have not been limited to European nights. Across all competitions this season, the Spain international has kept 28 clean sheets in 50 appearances, at least five more than any other goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues. Gianluigi Donnarumma is the closest challenger with 25, underlining the level Raya has maintained for Arsenal.

Arsenal Champions League final David Raya awards talk

That consistency has led to discussion about Raya potentially becoming the first goalkeeper since Lev Yashin in 1963 to claim the Ballon d’Or. The talk places Raya among the season’s leading performers, although the goalkeeper insists collective achievements matter more than any individual recognition available after such a demanding campaign.

“Obviously, it’s something that you like to hear, and you like to see people talking about that potential,” Raya added. “I would love to be on that list and to be competing with the best in the world. I leave that to the pundits and the people that speak sport. I just want to be the best version of myself every day, and the rest will come along.”

Arsenal Champions League final David Raya belief and future

Arsenal also have the chance to join European history. Victory over PSG would make Arsenal the 25th different club to win the Champions League or European Cup. It would also see Arsenal become the fourth club to lift the trophy in the same season as winning the English league title.

Liverpool have managed that double twice, in 1976-77 and 1983-84. Manchester United matched it in 1998-99 and 2007-08, and Manchester City repeated the achievement in 2022-23. Arsenal would therefore join a select group of English teams that converted domestic dominance into success on the European stage.

Domestically, Arsenal finished above Manchester City after three seasons in which Arteta’s side ended as runners-up. That shift has increased belief inside the squad that Arsenal can compete with Europe’s best on a regular basis. Raya credits the title win with changing the mood around the club, easing pressure before facing PSG.

“Incredible feeling, everything has paid off, the way we did this is incredible,” Raya continued. “It’s a relief. Its a weight off the shoulders, and now we can be a little bit more free in a way. So that will help us to be even better, to be more convinced of what we’re capable of. It has to be a turning point for the club, for everyone that is involved here. So, why can we not go next season and have the same aim?”

Arsenal now head into the Champions League final with a strong defensive record, a confident attack and a goalkeeper in standout form. Raya’s focus remains on collective success rather than individual prizes, as Arsenal look to complete a season that has already brought the Premier League title with a first European crown.