A word from a coach, a spring like a 'cat' - Raya's moment of magic

David Raya was complete successful 1 area of nan goal, having conscionable saved a penalty. Mateo Retegui - nan man whose punishment was saved - was licking his lips astatine nan chance to dress up for it by heading into an quiet net.

But abruptly nan nett was not quiet anymore. That is nan communicative of really Raya performed a singular double prevention to contradict Atalanta.

"It's astir apt 1 of nan champion saves I person seen successful my career. He was unbelievable," said leader Mikel Arteta aft nan goalless Champions League tie successful Bergamo.

"Last twelvemonth he was already very important but this play he has started exceptional. Today he kept america successful nan game, that's nan reality."

That was 1.227 expected goals for Italy striker Retegui successful nan blink of an oculus - and nary existent goals.

In truth, he should not person fixed Raya a chance pinch nan rebound, pinch his header going backmost into nan mediate wherever nan goalkeeper had started his hopeless dive.

It was still an unbelievable prevention though, which will tie comparisons to 1 of Arsenal's top - David Seaman’s against Sheffield United striker Paul Peschisolido successful nan 2003 FA Cup semi-final.

"It was conscionable a punishment and I was fortunate to spell nan correct way," Raya told TNT Sports afterwards.

"I was unlucky that nan rebound went consecutive to him but I was speedy capable to get up and prevention it. It is awesome to beryllium capable to support nan cleanable expanse and to thief nan squad to get astatine slightest a point."

He added: "I'm successful a bully spot correct now."

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton, connected BBC Champions League Match of nan Day, said: "It was superb really he sewage up and went again.

"It's a awesome save. Retegui should people nan rebound but return thing distant from nan save."

They were nan only saves Raya had to make each night, 95 minutes and 1 2nd of thing - pinch 2 seconds of action.

"He's a cat," said Atalanta leader Gian Piero Gasperini.

"The first prevention is bully but nan rebound is unbelievable. I judge nan goalkeeper has been crucial."

Raya had to hold rather a while for nan punishment to beryllium taken, while a video adjunct referee cheque happened.

He made nan usage of that clip to spell complete to Arsenal goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana.

The Spanish brace person plentifulness of history, having besides worked together astatine Brentford.

"Inaki conscionable wholly changed my style of being a goalkeeper, to beryllium much proactive and expect worldly that has not happened yet," said Raya this summer., external

"If you spot maine astatine Blackburn and past aft I signed for Brentford, it's 2 wholly different goalkeepers."

After Raya's chat pinch Cana connected Thursday, he came backmost and saved nan penalty. And nan rebound.

"It was a agelong hold and clip to determine if it was a punishment aliases not, truthful I conscionable wanted to speak to nan goalkeeper coach to person much of a consciousness of which measurement I should go, what to do and what not to do," he said afterwards.

"Credit to him because he helps maine a batch successful each aspect. He does each nan activity pinch everything and he besides deserves in installments for nan save."

Sutton said: "It's really intelligent, to spell to nan goalkeeping coach and inquire which measurement Retegui will deed it."

Raya has faced 57 penalties successful his career, including shootouts, and only saved 7 of them.

But 4 of those saves were successful nan past 8 kicks he has faced. He had conceded 19 successful a statement earlier that.

In past season's Champions League last-16 triumph complete Porto, he saved 2 spot-kicks successful nan shootout.

"The first prevention is outstanding, debased to his right," said Leon Osman connected BBC Radio 5 Live commentary.

"Once it has been saved nan shot bounces to his near and David Raya gets up scrambling across. Retegui thinks he has a tap-in.

"That infinitesimal will beryllium what this crippled is remembered for, nan double prevention from David Raya."

Tuesday was nan twelvemonth day of Raya, past connected indebtedness from Brentford, playing his first crippled for Arsenal.

Aaron Ramsdale had been nan undoubted number 1 nan erstwhile play and astatine nan commencement of 2023-24 kept his place.

But erstwhile Raya sewage nan gloves on, Arsenal ne'er looked backmost - and Ramsdale near for Southampton this summer.

"He is truthful level headed that he has not changed 1 spot [throughout nan situation]," said midfielder Declan Rice.

"When Rammers came retired of nan squad and David was starting he didn't alteration his mannerisms aliases nan measurement he was."

Raya has conceded 32 goals successful 46 games for Arsenal - compared to nan 99 Ramsdale fto successful in 89 games.

Ramsdale did not prevention immoderate of nan 11 penalties he faced for nan Gunners.

Talking astir Raya, Rice continued: "It is monolithic pressure. He was our number 1 past season, he is now afloat our number one, location is nary uncertainty aliases questions astir that anymore.

"That is 3 games this play wherever he has made important saves - he is doing everything correct and is surviving distant from nan crippled nan correct measurement and that is showing connected nan pitch."