Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made his competitive senior international debut for Spain on Thursday night.
The Gunners stopper played the full 90 minutes as La Roja ran out 3-1 winners in their Euro 2024 qualifier in Limassol.
It marks another exciting milestone in Raya‘s career, his second in just a few months.
In summer, Arsenal signed the 28-year-old on loan from Brentford, with a £30million option to buy.
This came after a very fruitful stint in West London, where he became one of the Premier League’s most promising and sought-after keepers.
Raya has since become first-choice at the Emirates and now has also won his first competitive cap for the 2010 World Cup winners.
The Arsenal man previously won two Spain caps in friendly matches.
‘He was alert’
Playing competitively for Spain is obviously no mean feat, and the standards in La Roja are sky-high, as per some Spanish outlets that ran post-match ratings pieces.
For instance, El Desmarque gave the Arsenal keeper a 5 out of 10 rating for his efforts on the night.
“Little work for the Arsenal goalkeeper, who caused a scare in the first half and then conceded Pileas’ goal,” they wrote. “He could not vindicate himself.”
Likewise, Marca gave Raya a 5 out of 10 rating.
“The Spanish goalkeeper has established himself in the Arsenal goal and has ousted Ramsdale,” they wrote.
“This has earned him ownership in the National Team. He was alert on his first committed outing.”
David Raya has big season ahead of him for Arsenal and Spain
With his first competitive cap now under his belt, Raya will look to help Arsenal flourish in the league and push for a spot at Euro 2024 with La Roja.
On Thursday, the Spaniards closed in on top spot in their Group A with victory in Cyprus, putting them on 18 points with one match remaining.
They sit two points ahead of second-placed Scotland, who had also already qualified and were held to a 2-2 draw in Georgia.
Teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal got his second senior Spain goal in the fifth minute before Mikel Oyarzabal and Joselu made it 3-0 by the half-hour mark.
Although Kostas Pileas pulled one back in the 75th minute, it was little more than a consolation as Spain’s second string cruised to a routine victory.