‘Just Kill Me!’ David Raya on Argument With Gabriel at Wolves

David Raya has revealed what was said between him and Gabriel Magalhães after Arsenal conceded a late equaliser at Wolves in the title race last season.

Arsenal became the first league leaders in Premier League history to let a two-goal lead slip to a team in the relegation zone, when they travelled to Molineux in February.

Having already dropped points in four of their seven league games in the calendar year, including a draw at Brentford the week prior, a victory in the Midlands seemed to be non-negotiable for the club's title ambitions.

The game couldn't have started in a better fashion for Arsenal, as Bukayo Saka netted from close range within the opening minutes, before confirming his long-anticipated contract renewal through his celebration.

Leading at the break, Piero Hincapié doubled the visitors' advantage shortly after half-time, before a long-range Hugo Bueno effort saw Wolves halve the deficit on the hour mark.

After being given a lifeline, Wolves recorded more possession than their league-leading counterparts. Then, in the fourth minute of additional time, substitute debutant Tom Edozie scored a late equaliser when Raya dropped the initial cross after colliding with Gabriel.

The Brazilian was visibly fuming at the costly error, and tensions flared at full-time as his compatriot Gabriel Jesus pushed Yerson Mosquera to the ground in an altercation. Both sets of players brawled on the pitch, before making their way to their changing rooms.

Raya has now revealed to the Beyond The Box Podcast that he exchanged words with Gabriel after they went down the tunnel. Whilst the pair were emotional following a potentially decisive late equaliser, nothing was 'personal', according to the Spain international.

He explained, 'You can say it is my fault because I dropped it, you can say it is his fault because he should have moved. At the end of the day, s*** happens. It is what it is. It is just football, you cannot explain every single action.' 

The 31-year-old claims that Gabriel instructed him that next time he should, 'Just f****** drop me over, just k*ll me! I don't care!'

Raya insists that he tried to do the 'right thing' by coming to collect the lofted ball from the cross, and explained that he believed Arsenal's defensive line was too deep, and a higher line would have prevented the error in judgement on both parts.

He admitted that the draw may have added further pressure to the group, though the Gunners demolished Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby just days later, and won nine of their remaining eleven league games.

Arsenal also went on to lift the Premier League trophy for the first time in 22 years, and Raya collected his third consecutive Golden Glove award, keeping 19 clean sheets across 37 league matches.