David Raya: Arsenal goalkeeper, Mikel Arteta laud goalkeeping heroics in win at Aston Villa – ‘Fantastic save’
Published 24/08/2024 at 22:40 GMT+1
David Raya admitted his save to deny Ollie Watkins in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Aston Villa was one of the best of his career as The Gunners made it two wins from two to kick off their Premier League campaign. Raya produced a stunning point-blank save to deny the England international before Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey fired Arsenal to victory at Villa Park.
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Goals from substitute Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey led Arsenal to a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park, but a save from David Raya was of equal importance as The Gunners got some revenge for two league defeats to Unai Emery's side last season.
Villa took six points off Mikel Arteta's side during the 2023/24 Premier League season, but could not make it three league wins in a row over the North London club.
Unai Emery's side did have Arsenal on the ropes at times in the first half, with Ollie Watkins missing a fantastic opportunity to take the lead in the first half.
The England international then forced a spectacular reaction save out of goalkeeper Raya, heading towards a seemingly open goal after the goalkeeper was sent sprawling by a deflected shot from Amadou Onana that crashed off the crossbar.
Raya would climb to his feet to palm Watkins' header away from goal, much to the disbelief of the home crowd.
"It's a crucial moment of the game.... I was there to save Ollie's header," Raya told Sky Sports. "What I remember, it's a shot that comes from outside the box.
"I'm on the floor, looking over my head, I can't reach it, but then the rebound going towards the pitch, I just see Ollie going in there and I react as quick as possible.
"I put my hand out, and thankfully nobody was around. It was a fantastic save."
Gunners boss Arteta admitted he thought Villa had scored before Raya's sensational save.
"I thought it was a goal," Arteta told reporters in his post-match press conference. "I saw the reaction of the defensive line which was none because the ball goes on the crossbar.
"We're all watching the ball and I went, 'No, please.' Then I see the striker in that position and normally it's a goal. David's reaction is unbelievable."
The save helped Arsenal rally and go on and take all three points.
Trossard scored with his first touch, just moments after replacing Gabriel Martinelli with 25 minutes remaining, as he swept home Bukayo Saka's cut back.
Saka would be the provider for the second goal as well, with Partey firing a low, curling shot past Emi Martinez in the closing minutes of the encounter, beating the Argentina international at his near post as defenders partially blocked his view.
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"I'm very happy," Arteta said. "It's a really tough place to come, a great atmosphere for football, a really good team, really well coached with great collective organisation and huge individual threat.
"We found a way to win, especially because the team played with a lot of personality and understood the game better and better as it was going, apart from those 10-12 minutes in the second half.
"When we had to rely on certain individuals, we did, like the situation of David, which is an unbelievable save. When we made the changes, the impact they had was tremendous.
"When the team starts to be equipped that way and starts to be able to navigate through different contexts in the match, it becomes a team that can win in every place. Today we showed that."
Arsenal are level with title rivals Manchester City on six points through the opening two games following the champions' 4-1 victory over Ipswich on Saturday afternoon.
The Gunners host Brighton in the early kick-off next Saturday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Watch the 2024-25 Premier League live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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