David Raya Hopes Injured Bayern Munich Legend Manuel Neuer Will Be Fit to Face Arsenal

According to a report by Football London on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya is hoping Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer recovers from his foot problem in time to feature in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League clash at the Allianz Arena.

The German international remains a doubt for the European encounter after missing Bayern’s previous two matches. However, Raya is eager to face the experienced goalkeeper, whom he admired while growing up.

Rather than welcoming Neuer’s potential absence, the Arsenal shot-stopper expressed his admiration for the Bayern captain, describing him as a legend whose achievements have inspired generations of goalkeepers.

Speaking ahead of the match, Raya said: “I like every single thing about Manuel Neuer. He’s a legend of the game, even though he’s still playing. What he’s done and what he has achieved, personally and collectively, is remarkable.”

The Spaniard also praised Neuer’s influence on younger goalkeepers, explaining that he followed the German’s career during his childhood and considers sharing the pitch with him a special experience.

Raya added: “He’s been a great goalkeeper and a great role model for a lot of young goalkeepers. When I was young, he was playing and I looked up to him.”

He continued: “It’s just a pleasure to be sharing the pitch with him once again. Hopefully, he’s fit enough to play tomorrow.”

Although Raya did not single out a particular aspect of Neuer’s game that impressed him most, he discussed Arsenal’s plans to deal with Bayern’s aggressive pressing during his pre-match press conference.

The Gunners expect Bayern to press high up the pitch and closely mark their players. Raya explained that Arsenal would look to play through the pressure and create scoring opportunities during the crucial European encounter.

Meanwhile, Neuer’s availability remains uncertain, although Bayern sporting director Max Eberl has played down concerns about the goalkeeper’s condition following the club’s emphatic 6-1 victory over RB Leipzig on Saturday.

Eberl explained that Neuer’s problem involved fluid accumulating around his foot, insisting that the issue was not serious despite forcing the experienced goalkeeper to miss consecutive matches.

The 40-year-old also missed Bayern’s 3-3 Champions League draw against Viking Stavanger before sitting out their Bundesliga victory over Leipzig.

Jonas Urbig replaced Neuer in both matches, while the Bayern captain continued training separately as the club monitored his recovery.

Eberl confirmed that Neuer was unavailable for the Leipzig game and said the club would assess his condition before deciding whether he could return against Arsenal. As of Tuesday morning, the goalkeeper remained doubtful for the encounter but had not been ruled out.

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