David Raya believes Arsenal are performing with renewed self-assurance following the relief of finally securing the Premier League title. The reigning champions maintained their flawless start to the new campaign by defeating Chelsea 2-1 at home on Sunday, collecting nine points from their opening three matches.
Arsenal delivered a commanding display filled with energy and creative freedom. It was a clear contrast to the tense closing months of last season, when pressure and expectations weighed heavily on the team before they overcame Manchester City to claim their first league title since 2004, having finished second in each of the previous three seasons.
That sense of freedom was evident against Chelsea, as it has been throughout much of the campaign, starting with the 3-0 Community Shield victory over City. Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard scored against Chelsea and produced many of Arsenal’s best attacking moments. However, it was the team’s relentless intensity and physical strength that stood out most. Raya also made an exceptional late save to deny substitute Estêvão and ensure Arsenal earned the victory their performance deserved.
“Winning the league after waiting so many years and coming close on several occasions brings a feeling of relief and gives you even more confidence,” Raya said. “Our first three matches this season, particularly the Community Shield victory over City and the way we performed, have provided additional motivation and belief to play in our preferred style.”
“We hope to continue performing like this because we understand our quality. We believe we are capable of defeating any team in the league. For now, we must remain focused on the present.”
One of the most impressive features of Arsenal’s performance was their response after conceding to Morgan Rogers just 77 seconds into the match. They immediately launched repeated attacks and created numerous opportunities before Havertz scored the equaliser in the 25th minute. The confidence was also apparent among the supporters, who responded without alarm and continued to encourage the team loudly.
“There are areas where we could have performed better for Rogers’ goal,” Raya said. “We needed to defend more effectively, particularly during the opening moments. Conceding so early was frustrating, but the most important thing was our response and the quality of our overall performance. We controlled the match, attacked with purpose and defended strongly.”
“We understand Chelsea’s quality, particularly when they break forward quickly and force opponents to retreat defensively. That made this a very significant victory.”
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