David Raya looks staggeringly different to how he did in 2018 after horror facial injury

The Arsenal goalkeeper now sports a very different look following a horror collision on the pitch

Arsenal's number one David Raya bears little resemblance to the player who first arrived at Blackburn Rovers, following a serious injury that required reconstructive surgery. The Spanish shot-stopper's transformation left supporters stunned back in 2024 when images circulated widely on social media.

The £30 million signing from Brentford, who initially arrived on loan before making the switch permanent in 2024, has been instrumental in Arsenal's pursuit of Premier League glory this campaign.

The Gunners face his former club on Thursday night as they aim to strengthen their position at the summit of the table. A post on X from two years earlier featured contrasting images of Raya aged 29 alongside a picture from when he was 19, sparking surprise amongst fans who believed he looked considerably younger in recent times.

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Supporters are only now learning that Raya, currently 30, underwent a dramatic facial change following a serious injury during his time at Blackburn,

The goalkeeper suffered a significant collision with West Brom forward Jay Rodriguez in a match, resulting in hospitalisation and forcing him to wear protective facial equipment for a fortnight when he returned to action. He subsequently underwent reconstructive surgery.

Reactions to the X post varied widely, with comments including: "What a glow up" and: "The glow up is insane". One supporter quipped: "Broke his nose and he aged backwards", whilst another said: "Ain't no way that's Raya".

Whilst the injury proved less severe than first feared, Raya nevertheless elected to undergo surgery, postponing the procedure until the campaign concluded. Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph in November 2018, the goalkeeper provided a detailed account of the distressing incident.

Despite the injury resulting in his altered appearance, he maintained at the time that delaying the operation until the summer was crucial to avoid missing matches.

"It's not impeding me to breathe or anything and if I had the surgery now [during that season], I would be out for six to eight weeks," he explained.

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray described the severity of Raya's injury at the time, revealing the shocking nature of what occurred. "The players were feeling sick with what they saw," Mowbray told BBC Sport.

"He is in hospital. The bone at the top has been pushed into the skull almost and the nose is sort of hanging off really. The players could not look at it, it was that bad."

Currently at Wrexham, Rodriguez has also reflected on the incident, with the former West Brom player admitting his role left him deeply distressed.

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"It's not nice to see. I was chasing the ball, I tried to get out of the way but I've caught him with the top of my foot," he said. "I've been told he's gone to hospital and I'm gutted about that."

Following close to 100 outings for Rovers, Raya made the switch to Brentford, where four seasons of outstanding displays attracted the attention of Mikel Arteta. The Arsenal boss initially secured his services on loan in 2023, before completing a permanent transfer the following summer.