Abstract: An arc spray method is proposed for manufacturing a dense layer on a substrate in which an electric voltage is applied to two electrically conductive spray wires and with which an arc is ignited between the spray wires, wherein a melt is generated from the spray wires in a melting region, with the melt being acted on by a fluid which transports the melt to the substrate where the melt is deposited for generating the layer. Oxidizable particles are supplied to the melt and are deposited on the substrate together with the melt; and after the end of the spraying, the oxidizable particles are at least partly oxidized to densify the layer.