Mikel Arteta needs just one word to sum up David Raya after rescuing Arsenal

Arsenal kicked disconnected their Champions League run with a hard-earned constituent against Atalanta successful Bergamo - and had David Raya to convey aft an unthinkable treble prevention successful the 2nd half

Arsenal brag Mikel Arteta claimed David Raya's unthinkable prevention was 1 of the champion stops helium has ever seen arsenic helium praised the “unbelievable” Gunners goalkeeper.

Raya saved Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui’s 51st infinitesimal punishment and past got up to marque an adjacent amended halt from the rebound with a sensational one-handed prevention connected the line.

It was capable to gain Arsenal a gully connected a frustrating commencement to their Champions League aft a crippled lone memorable due to the fact that of Raya’s treble save.

Arteta said: “It's astir apt 1 of the champion saves I person seen successful my career. He was unbelievable.

"As we suspected, it was a pugnacious match. Not the nicest to watch. We started really, truly good and we were truly commanding the game. We gave a batch of shot distant and couldn't get immoderate rhythm. There are a batch of positives and determination are a batch of things for definite to improve."

Raya played caput games arsenic helium went implicit to his keeper manager Inaki Cana connected the sideline portion the punishment was being checked by VAR.

Incredibly, lone a twelvemonth agone Raya was the villain aft Arteta’s determination to bring successful the Spaniard up of fans’ favourite Aaron Ramsdale was being debated. And helium insisted his show is conscionable repaying Arsenal’s religion successful making him No1.

Raya said: “It’s conscionable a penalty. I was fortunate I went the close mode to prevention it. I was unlucky the rebound fell to him but I was speedy capable to get up and prevention the rebound. It’s fantastic to prevention it and for the squad to get a point.

“I took the determination to spell to the sideline due to the fact that it was a agelong clip to determine if it was a punishment oregon not, truthful I went to talk to the goalie manager to get a amended consciousness of what to bash and what not to do. He helped maine a batch successful each aspect, truthful recognition to him arsenic well. He does each the enactment with everything.

“The players, the staff, the fans, the content they person successful me. Inaki, the goalie coach, has truthful overmuch assurance successful maine and I conscionable person to present for the club. I'm successful a bully mode now, I've got things to amended arsenic always, but I'm successful a bully spot now.”

Declan Rice, who returned to the starting lineup aft missing the triumph implicit Tottenham, added: "He is truthful level headed that helium has not changed 1 spot [throughout the situation]. When Rammers [Aaron Ramsdale] came retired of the squad and David was starting helium didn't alteration his mannerisms oregon the mode helium was.

"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."

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