For club and country, the rules are often different. Raya may be playing with authority, confidence and the kind of calm that top sides rely on, but international managers rarely rip up a pecking order unless they feel forced to.
Mendieta framed it bluntly: "David Raya está pressionando, mas, pela forma como o treinador trabalha, confiando em seus jogadores, é muito difícil fazê-lo mudar de ideia." That feels like the heart of the issue. De la Fuente appears to value certainty in big tournaments, and the report says Mendieta pointed to his backing of Marc Cucurella through criticism as proof that he does not panic easily.
That makes Raya’s position awkward rather than hopeless. He can do little more than keep performing for Arsenal and wait for an opening. The report says Mendieta even described the situation as "infeliz", which feels fair enough: a goalkeeper can be outstanding and still remain second in line if the manager’s faith sits elsewhere.
The only real shift, Mendieta suggested, would come through something "drástico ou dramático". Until then, the established order appears likely to hold.
Away from the international debate, the same update says Arsenal are expected to look for more attacking punch in the next window. That has long felt like the next step for a side that can control matches but sometimes needs a sharper edge against elite opponents.
One name mentioned was Julián Alvarez, though a move from Atletico Madrid sounds unlikely. Reports suggest he is settled, valued and not obviously on the way out, even if Arsenal would naturally admire a forward of that level.
For now, the watchpoints are clear: Raya’s next chance with Spain, and whether Arsenal turn summer interest into a serious push for a new attacker.