The man of the match in the Atalanta – Arsenal (0-0) game was goalkeeper David Raya. Thanks to a phenomenal double save by the Spaniard, The Gunners took a point back to London. Friends and foes alike ran out of superlatives to describe it.
In an instant, Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui recorded 1.227 expected goals. The fact that he didn’t score was down to Arsenal's goalkeeper, David Raya.
As the tension in the stadium mounted, Retegui stepped up to take the penalty, but Raya, showing his remarkable reflexes and anticipation, dove to the right corner and saved it. What followed was a heart-stopping moment: the ball rebounded perfectly for Retegui, who now had the chance to head it into an empty net. With Raya still on the ground from his initial dive, it seemed inevitable that Atalanta would take the lead. Retegui’s header seemed destined for the back of the net, but just as the crowd prepared to erupt, Raya, with cat-like reflexes, sprang up from the corner and made a miraculous second save, snatching the ball out of mid-air.
This incredible sequence of events left both fans and players in awe. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta couldn’t contain his praise. "One of the best saves I’ve seen in my life," Arteta declared. "He was truly unbelievable today. Last year, he was already very important, but this season he’s started in an extraordinary way. Today, he saved us." Raya's composure and ability to stay in the game mentally, even after such a high-pressure situation, marked him as one of the standout performers.
Pundits were equally impressed. Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton, analyzing the match on BBC’s Champions League Match of the Day, marveled at Raya’s recovery. "Brilliant," Sutton said. "How he got up so quickly and went again, amazing." Sutton’s sentiment was echoed by Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who offered his own colorful praise: "Raya is like a cat. The first save was good, but the rebound truly unbelievable."
Despite all the praise, the goalkeeper himself remained humble. Reflecting on the moment, Raya downplayed his heroics. "It’s a penalty, I was lucky to go in the right direction," he said modestly after the match. "But yeah, I’ve been in good form lately. I’m happy I could help the team and keep a clean sheet." His calm demeanor belied the magnitude of his contribution to the match.
In an interview with the BBC, Raya credited his transformation to his goalkeeper coach, Inaki Cana, whom he had previously worked with at Brentford. "He has completely changed my goalkeeping style. If you look at me at Blackburn and now, you’ll see two totally different goalkeepers. I’m much more proactive now and anticipate things before they happen," Raya explained. This proactive approach was evident in his performance against Atalanta, as he read the game expertly and positioned himself perfectly for each challenge.
Raya’s growth as a goalkeeper has been nothing short of remarkable. His penalty-saving stats, which at first glance may not seem impressive out of 57 penalties faced in his career, he has saved seven tell a different story when you zoom in on recent performances. In his last eight penalty situations, Raya has saved four, a testament to his growing confidence and improved technique.
Teammate Declan Rice summed up Raya's importance to the team. "This is already the third match this season where he has been crucial. He does everything right." Raya's impact is undeniable, as evidenced by his performance in the early stages of the season. In five official matches for Arsenal this season, the 29-year-old Spaniard has conceded just one goal, further establishing himself as a key figure in Arsenal’s defense and a rising star among Europe’s top goalkeepers.
As Arsenal pushes forward in both the Premier League and Champions League, Raya’s form will be instrumental. His ability to pull off incredible saves, stay calm under pressure, and continuously evolve his game has positioned him as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe at the moment. With performances like these, it’s no wonder that he’s earning rave reviews from coaches, teammates, and pundits alike. All eyes will be on Raya to see how far he can take Arsenal this season.
