David Raya elevates himself to one of world's best after latest sensational Arsenal stop

Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal: The Gunners kicked disconnected their Champions League run with a battling constituent successful Bergamo, acknowledgment chiefly to a stunning treble halt from David Raya

David Raya is creating his ain prevention of the play competition.

The Arsenal keeper pulled disconnected 1 of the top treble saves you volition ever spot successful the Champions League successful the Stadio di Bergamo. We each thought Raya’s sensational halt to contradict Ollie Watkins astatine Aston Villa past period would instrumentality immoderate beating arsenic that looked guaranteed to beryllium prevention of the season.

And yet Raya arguably bettered it to contradict Mateo Retegui, archetypal to halt the Atalanta striker’s punishment with a superb double-handed save. Raya past someway got up again to nutrient an unthinkable near handed halt to support retired Retegui’s follow-up header from conscionable 10 yards.

The 2nd prevention was really caput blowing arsenic it showed singular agility, reflexes and determination to halt the shot going in. That deserves to spell down among the Arsenal greats similar David Seaman’s one-handed halt against Sheffield United astatine Old Trafford. Raya’s was possibly adjacent better.

And it besides elevates Raya into Europe’s elite due to the fact that it is hard to deliberation of a amended keeper successful the satellite close now. Raya mightiness adjacent beryllium up of Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez based connected form.

Raya won the Premier League’s Golden Glove past play for conceding fewest goals and has lone been beaten erstwhile this season. It is singular to deliberation that this clip past twelvemonth the statement was raging astir whether Mikel Arteta had got it incorrect by replacing Aaron Ramsdale for Raya.

As bully arsenic Ramsdale was for Arsenal, determination tin surely beryllium nary statement present due to the fact that Raya was the leader to gain them a constituent from a beauteous frustrating night. Raya volition astir apt request to nutrient much heroics astatine Manchester City connected Sunday but, connected this form, helium conscionable looks unbeatable.

It was besides the redeeming grace for Arsenal who were, successful truth, level and abbreviated connected ideas successful Bergamo which hardly bodes good for the adjacent fewer weeks erstwhile they volition person to header without Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal did not look coagulated successful defence and lone conceded the punishment due to the fact that of Thomas Partey’s clumsy situation connected Ederson. Referee Clement Turpin had nary hesitation, it underwent a lengthy VAR cheque but it was the close decision.

Partey looked sluggish and was substituted. Arsenal brag Arteta tried a new-look line-up arsenic helium enactment Gabriel Jesus up beforehand and Kai Havertz dropped deeper. But they did not truly click and Jesus was substituted.

There was a Champions League debut arsenic a substitute for Raheem Sterling who became the archetypal subordinate successful the competition’s past to play for FOUR antithetic clubs with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Sterling did acceptable up a accidental for Gabriel Martinelli who blazed implicit which was successful keeping with Arsenal’s night.

It was Bukayo Saka who really went closest for Arsenal arsenic his debased 13th infinitesimal escaped footwear produced a sensational prevention from Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi who past made a brave artifact from Partey connected the follow-up.

Arsenal conscionable could not find different gear. It was hardly a bully advert for the new-look Champions League due to the fact that it was a beauteous forgettable contention lacking successful quality.

Too galore mistakes and not capable chances. The ambiance successful Atalanta’s superb caller stadium helped marque it a amended night.

But successful these aboriginal Champions League games, a fewer teams person played harmless due to the fact that they cognize they person capable clip and opportunities to get through. That really means the archetypal lucifer week has lacked immoderate play and excitement.

And for Arteta, the Arsenal manager has conscionable been fixed 1 little time to hole for Sunday’s rubric crunch astatine the Etihad than rubric rivals City. But helium volition besides cognize they volition person to play amended than this to get a effect - unless Raya produces much heroics.

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