Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta lauds goalkeeper David Raya for his stunning double save, earning a crucial point in a 0-0 Champions League draw against Atalanta. Raya’s penalty heroics saved the Gunners from defeat.
BollywoodFever: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised goalkeeper David Raya after his remarkable double save secured a 0-0 draw against Atalanta in Thursday’s Champions League match.
Raya’s heroics came in the 51st minute when he saved Mateo Retegui’s penalty and then made an incredible reflex stop to deny Retegui’s rebound header.
I witnessed two of the best saves I’ve ever seen in my career from David in that moment,” said Arteta, acknowledging how crucial the goalkeeper’s performance was in avoiding a potentially damaging defeat.
Despite a strong start, Arsenal struggled to maintain control throughout the match. “We started well, then we lost control and were very inconsistent,” Arteta admitted. “If you can’t win, you have to take the point. We didn’t suffer defensively, apart from the penalty.”
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini was equally impressed by Raya’s goalkeeping prowess. “He’s a cat.
The first save is good, but the rebound is unbelievable. The goalkeeper has been crucial,” the Italian coach remarked.
Remaining modest, Raya credited his goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana for his guidance during the long VAR review of the penalty.
It was a long time to decide if it was a penalty, so I took the decision to speak with the goalie coach about where to go and where not to go,” said Raya. “He helped me a lot in every aspect, so credit to him.”
Although Raya’s performance secured a point, Arteta was less satisfied with Arsenal’s overall display, noting that his team lacked an offensive edge.
We had moments with the ball but never created dominance or threat,” he stated. “The first 25 minutes we read their approach well, but after that, we lost control of the game.”
Arsenal will need to improve their attacking play in the upcoming Champions League matches to bolster their chances of advancing beyond the group stage.
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