‘One of the best saves I’ve ever seen’ – David Raya heroics vindicates Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta’s huge call

Correct a day shy of the tenth anniversary of his Nationwide League debut, David Raya showed precisely why he’s now the valuable man in aim at Arsenal.

The Spanish goalkeeper pulled off a frightful double put to ascertain that a sloppy Arsenal came away with what’s often a treasured point in the Champions League at last season’s Europa League winners, Atalanta.

Atalanta forward Mateo Retegui, who already has four objectives this season, stepped as much as lift a penalty early in the second half, best to be denied by the Gunners’ ambitious force between the sticks.

Retegui didn’t safe his first strike severely neatly as Raya saved low all the diagram down to his honest exact, however the ball fell kindly to the penalty taker who reputedly had the easy project of heading home the rebound.

He headed down and no longer off course, however incredibly, Raya leapt up after an already spectacular put to scoop away the rebound and a ways flung from hazard.

Reacting to Raya’s put, Darren Crooked said on commentary for talkSPORT: “It’s better than the Ollie Watkins one, because that one’s in the corner and it’s to the ground.

“He heads it low, Retegui, heads it into the ground, and David Raya springs up so swiftly, and manages to tip it out, and no longer best does he tip it out, he does no longer topple to it at the stop of play, he pointers it almost a ways flung from aim.

“That is an absolute, unbelievable double save. The penalty save was good, but for me the second save was probably, you won’t see a better save than that all season.

“The aim scoring contact eludes Retegui, however the aim saving contact of a Golden Glove winner from last season.

“David Raya, to plunge to his right to make the first save, well that was good, but to get up and then dive to the opposite side at a much tougher angle, to turn away the header from on the goal line.

“And the mammoth social gathering to Raya, almost as if he’s scored, and Arsenal’s spirited sheet stays intact.”

Eyebrows were raised when Mikel Arteta first introduced Raya to Arsenal in the summer of 2023 with Aaron Ramsdale taking part in a mammoth purpose in the team’s enchancment over the outdated two seasons.

But profitable last season’s Golden Glove and a extraordinarily spectacular delivery to this term has considered Arteta’s stressful resolution safe vindicated and then some.

The Arsenal boss is no longer in truth lauding it over his doubters, however is marvelling at Raya’s brilliance.

Arteta on the spot TNT Sports: “Without focused on almost the rest from the penalty, however on that moment you wanted seemingly one of the best saves that I’ve considered in my career, each the penalty and the second action from David.

“He was unbelievable again today and we needed the other end, the two big chances that we had with Gabby to put them on the back of the net.

“Here’s Europe, very varied games to the Premier League. Boxes modified into an essential and I do know plenty of possibilities could even be created, however yeah, plenty of positives, plenty of things are tranquil for obvious to present a boost to.”

There’s no rest for the Gunners as their next outing sees them go to Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.

And Arsenal may just need more heroics from reliable Raya to get a result at the Etihad Stadium.