David Raya’s double save earned praise from Mikel Arteta and Gian Piero Gasperini after their Champions League match on Thursday.
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RAYA’S DOUBLE SAVE EARNS ARTETA GASPERINI PRAISE AS ARSENAL FORCES DRAW
xxx Furthermore, Raya’s double save earned praise from Arteta and Gasperini after Arsenal forced a 0-0 draw against Atalanta on Thursday.
Moreover, Atalanta forward Mateo Retegui was awarded a penalty in the 51st minute when Raya prevented an enemy goal twice against Arsenal.
On Retegui’s second goal attempt, the Spanish goalkeeper sprang across his goal to swat the forward’s follow-up header.
Arsenal made a gallant stand at the Stadio di Bergamo without skipper Martin Odegaard, who remained sidelined with an injury.
Arteta and Gasperini were impressed with Raya’s heroics, which prevented Arsenal from suffering a tough defeat.
ARTETA DESCRIBES RAYA’S HEROICS ‘TWO OF THE BEST SAVES I’VE SEEN’
Moreover, Arteta described Raya’s heroics as “two of the best saves I’ve seen.”
“I witnessed two of the best saves I’ve ever seen in my career from David in that moment,” the Arsenal manager said.
“If you can’t win, you have to take the point. We started well, then we lost control and were very inconsistent,” he added.
Furthermore, Raya downplayed his efforts and instead credited Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana.
Cana was the one Raya consulted as a video-assistance review check on the penalty decision.
“I went to speak with the goalie coach about where to go and where not to go,” the Arsenal goalkeeper said.
“He (Cana) helped me a lot in every aspect so credit to him,” he added.
GASPERINI COMPARES RAYA TO A ‘CAT,’ LAUDS GOALKEEPER’S HEROICS
Furthermore, Gasperini compared Raya to a “cat” and lauded the Arsenal goalkeeper’s record.
“He (Raya) is a cat. The first save is good, but the rebound is unbelievable,” the Atalanta manager said.
“The goalkeeper has been crucial,” he added.
Meanwhile, Gasperini may also have kind words for his goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi.
Carnesecchi foiled a first-half free kick by Bukayo Saya, which was Arsenal’s closest chance of scoring.
Atalanta qualified for the Champions Cup by placing fourth in Serie A last season.
