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

David Raya was implicit successful 1 country of the goal, having conscionable saved a penalty. Mateo Retegui - the antheral whose punishment was saved - was licking his lips astatine the accidental to marque up for it by heading into an bare net.

But abruptly the nett was not bare anymore. That is the communicative of however Raya performed a singular treble prevention to contradict Atalanta.

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

"Last twelvemonth helium was already precise important but this play helium has started exceptional. Today helium kept america successful the game, that's the reality."

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

In truth, helium should not person fixed Raya a accidental with the rebound, with his header going backmost into the mediate wherever the goalkeeper had started his hopeless dive.

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

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

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

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

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton, connected BBC Champions League Match of the Day, said: "It was superb however helium got up and went again.

"It's a fantastic save. Retegui should people the rebound but instrumentality thing distant from the save."

They were the lone saves Raya had to marque each night, 95 minutes and 1 2nd of thing - with 2 seconds of action.

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

"The archetypal prevention is bully but the rebound is unbelievable. I judge the goalkeeper has been crucial."

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

He made the usage of that clip to spell implicit to Arsenal goalkeeping manager Inaki Cana.

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

"Inaki conscionable wholly changed my benignant 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 antithetic goalkeepers."

After Raya's chat with Cana connected Thursday, helium came backmost and saved the penalty. And the rebound.

"It was a agelong hold and clip to determine if it was a punishment oregon not, truthful I conscionable wanted to talk to the goalkeeper manager to person much of a consciousness of which mode I should go, what to bash and what not to do," helium said afterwards.

"Credit to him due to the fact that helium helps maine a batch successful each aspect. He does each the enactment with everything and helium besides deserves recognition for the save."

Sutton said: "It's truly intelligent, to spell to the goalkeeping manager and inquire which mode Retegui volition deed it."

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

But 4 of those saves were successful the past 8 kicks helium has faced. He had conceded 19 successful a enactment earlier that.

In past season's Champions League last-16 triumph implicit Porto, helium saved 2 spot-kicks successful the shootout.

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

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

"That infinitesimal volition beryllium what this crippled is remembered for, the treble prevention from David Raya."

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

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

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

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

"When Rammers came retired of the squad and David was starting helium didn't alteration his mannerisms oregon the mode helium was."

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

Ramsdale did not prevention immoderate of the 11 penalties helium faced for the Gunners.

Talking astir Raya, Rice continued: "It is monolithic pressure. He was our fig 1 past season, helium is present afloat our fig one, determination is nary uncertainty oregon questions astir that anymore.

"That is 3 games this play wherever helium has made important saves - helium is doing everything close and is surviving distant from the crippled the close mode and that is showing connected the pitch."