Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya says his gamble as a 16 year-old has paid off.

Raya left Spain at that age to play for Blackburn, Southport and Brentford, before joining Arsenal last summer.

"I left the country when I was very young, just 16 years old, and I had to work hard to get to where I am now. You value a lot of things, like when I left to play in the fifth division at 18 to 19 years old," the 28 year-old told Flashscore.

"It's very different to professional football or training, to the facilities I was used to at Blackburn. They taught me a lot of things there and it helps you to appreciate what you have. I wouldn't change my career for the world."

Raya added: "The level of goalkeepers in Spain is very high. I live every training camp as if it were my last and I enjoy it as if it were my last.

"We have a very good atmosphere. Whoever comes, we goalkeepers know where we come from and we know that if we come here it's because we're playing. We know what it's like not to play and there has to be a good atmosphere for this to work."