Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was in no doubt as to the quality of David Raya’s performance against Atalanta as the Gunners claimed a Champions League point, hailing his stunning double wonder save as “one of the best I’ve ever seen”.
Raya had to produce heroics to preserve an unlikely 0-0 draw in Italy, with two stops from an early second-half penalty that also left Arteta’s opposite number, Gian Piero Gasperini, open mouthed and comparing the shotstopper to ‘”a cat”.
After Thomas Partey had fouled Ederson, Raya first denied Mateo Retegui from the spot with a dive to his right-hand side, with the ball rebounding back to Retegui on the follow-up.
The forward then headed it goalwards, but Raya’s reactions were sensational, as he somehow managed to get back across his line and claw away the second attempt.
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Those David Raya saves! 😲👏#UCL pic.twitter.com/klCuEe29PB
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 19, 2024
Watch David Raya’s stunning double save vs. Atalanta that had Arteta in awe
Arsenal boss Arteta was in no doubt as to just how good the double stop was, and you can see it for yourself on Arsenal’s official YouTube channel here.
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Arteta said: “I witnessed two of the best saves that I have probably seen in my career, from David, to save us from that moment.
“This season he has been exceptional. Today (he) kept us in the game — that’s the reality. You need that from a goalkeeper at this level and I’m really happy that he’s in the form he is in at the moment.”
Prior to facing the penalty, Raya had come to the sidelines to talk with Gunners goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana, and was quick to share the credit.
He put his heroics down to “luck”.
Raya said: “It was just a penalty and I was lucky to go the right way and save it. I was unlucky to get the rebound straight to him but I was just quick enough to get up and save the rebound.
“I took the decision to go to the sidelines because it was a long wait and a long time to decide if it was a penalty or not.
“So I just went to speak to the goalkeeping coach to have a more sense and way of where to go and where not to go, and what to do and what not to do.
“He helped me a lot in every aspect so credit to him as well.”
