Declan Rice singles out Arsenal star who has gone ‘next level’ after Atalanta draw

Declan Rice has hailed goalkeeper David Raya for ‘going to the adjacent level’ aft his stunning treble prevention successful Arsenal’s goalless gully with Atalanta.

The Gunners settled for a constituent successful their opening lucifer of their Champions League run acknowledgment to their heroics of their no1.

Raya guessed close to prevention Mateo Retegui’s penalty, leaping backmost to his feet to bat distant the striker’s follow-up header with a fantastic afloat agelong prevention crossed the extremity line.

Arsenal had their chances to get the triumph with Gabriel Martinelli passing up their champion of their chances.

But Rice pointed to Raya’s heroics and different resolute show from William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes successful helping the Gunners unafraid yet different cleanable sheet.

Raya has made a drawstring of bonzer saves this season, denying Ollie Watkins successful akin manner astatine Villa Park having made a hugely important halt against Wolves connected the opening time of the season.

Arsenal person conceded conscionable 1 extremity successful their opening 5 matches of the play with their centre-half concern besides playing a immense role.

‘The 2 centre-backs, I can’t talk highly capable of them and the goalkeeper. He has gone to a adjacent level, unbelievable,’ Rice told TNT Sports.

‘They emotion defending. When you person got that three, the small triangle, who privation it arsenic overmuch arsenic they do, it is truly good.’

Rice besides praised Raya’s mentality having travel into the nine past play and displaced Aaron Ramsdale arsenic no1, with the England changeable stopper leaving the Emirates to articulation Southampton this summer.

‘He’s truthful level headed helium hasn’t changed 1 bit,’ Rice continued. ‘Rammers [Ramsdale] going retired and him coming in, helium didn’t alteration his mannerisms oregon the mode helium was. It was monolithic pressure.

‘He was our no1 past play and he’s afloat no1 present there’s nary questions astir that anymore. He is truly focused. Three games this play helium has made important saves. He is doing everything close and surviving the distant from shot the close mode and showing that connected the pitch.’

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