Raya on ‘beast’ Calafiori and aiming to make it ‘impossible’ for Liverpool | OneFootball

David Raya has said that it would be “incredible’ for Arsenal to win both the Champions League and the Premier League this season.

Arsenal have laid a claim to the Premier League title in each of the last two seasons, finishing second both times, but have struggled to mount a significant Champions League charge, only reaching the quarter-finals last season. The Gunners are now aiming to win both.

Speaking after narrowly beating Shaktar Donetsk at the Emirates on Tuesday night, where he felt the scoreline did not reflect Arsenal’s “dominant” performance, Raya told TNT Mexico that the Gunners are constantly improving and aiming high.

He said: “You dream of winning both, so we are going to go step by step to see where we are at the end of the season and we are going to think little by little. But if we win both that would be incredible!”

He owes the team’s improvement to the additions of Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori, who he dubbed a ‘beast’.

“They are bringing a lot of quality, they have adapted very quick to the team and what the manager wants, and I think it is being shown on the field.

“Merino suffered an injury when he arrived but has returned now and I think he is showing a great level and Calafiori is a beast defensively and in attack too.

“Calafiori is top and both as people are incredible.”

As Arsenal prepare to return to league action against Liverpool, Raya is missing the contributions of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, both of whom are currently struggling with long-term injuries. Both fan favourites and driving attacking forces, Arsenal have struggled for goals in their absence, failing to net against Bournemouth and underperforming against Shaktar.

“We know that they are both very, very important players for the team and it is clear that we miss them both.

“The people who are coming in are doing a good job to help the team like we have seen.”

A win against Liverpool could see Arsenal climb as high as second in the Premier League table. A good result will be crucial for morale too, after Arsenal suffered their first league defeat since April last time out. Despite that, Raya is up for the challenge, saying the Gunners will take the fight straight to Liverpool.

“We will try to make the life impossible for Liverpool, so they don’t get the 3 points and we get them.”