Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya required plastic surgery to address horror facial injury he suffered while playing for Blackburn

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya suffered a horrific nose-altering injury during his time at Blackburn Rovers before making his name in the Premier League.

The current first-choice shot-stopper in north London was born in Barcelona but moved to England in 2012 to join Blackburn at the age of 16.

Five years later, after a season on loan at Southport in the National League, Raya became the first choice goalkeeper at the Championship side before moving to Brentford just two years later.

It was during his time at Blackburn that Raya suffered a serious injury, which left him hopsitalised.

During a match against West Brom at the Hawthorns, Raya collided with Baggies striker Jay Rodriguez before being taken to the hospital.

He was forced to wear a mask after colliding with former West Brom forward Jay Rodriguez

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The Spaniard required oxygen on the pitch and was transported to the local hospital for further treatment.

Then-Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray revealed that the injury was so bad that the bone at the top of his nose was ‘almost pushed into his skull’.

‘The players were feeling sick with what they saw,’  the Rovers boss 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.’

Rodriguez gave his immediate reaction after the match as he wished Raya a speedy recovery.

He also spoke to BBC Sport, saying: ‘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. 

‘I’ve been told he’s gone to hospital and I’m gutted about that.’

The Spaniard has impressed for Mikel Arteta’s side this season, displacing Aaron Ramsdale

Raya had to wear a protective mask for two weeks following his return, but the injury was less serious than initially feared.

The goalkeeper was forced to have nose reconstruction surgery, although decided to postpone that procedure until the end of that season. 

In November 2018, Raya opened up on the collision during an interview with the Lancashire Telegraph and admitted that he feared the worst. 

 ‘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 said.

‘I think it’s the right decision to wait, even though my nose isn’t the same.

‘It can happen to anyone, it can happen with a header to a centre-back, so that won’t change my type of play or anything.’

The Arsenal shot-stopper didn’t let it affect him as his impressive rise continued, sealing a move to Brentford before impressing in the Premier League.

He is currently on loan in north London and displaced Aaron Ramsdale as Mikel Arteta’s number one this season with a string of impressive performances.