David Raya made a stunning double save to keep out a second-half penalty as Arsenal held Atalanta to a 0-0 draw to begin their Champions League campaign in Italy.
Raya saved Mateo Retegui’s spot-kick down low to his right and then managed to scramble across the goal-line and keep out the Atalanta forward’s header from close range.
The Spanish goalkeeper was mobbed by his Arsenal team-mates for producing the sensational double stop, after Thomas Partey conceded the penalty for a clip on Atalana’s Ederson.
In a contest of few chances, Gabriel Martinelli blazed Arsenal’s best opportunity over the crossbar following a pass from Raheem Sterling as the Gunners were unable to find the breakthrough.
Bukayo Saka forced a good save from Marco Carnesecchi with a low free-kick early on before the Europa League champions took more control of the possession.
But a draw was a decent result for Arsenal, who now travel to Manchester City on Sunday for a crunch clash of last season’s Premier League title rivals.
Follow all the reaction from the 0-0 draw in the Champions League and Raya’s double save, below
David Raya magic rescues Arsenal but Champions League draw raises further questions
A double save reflects a double-edged display. It could have been worse for Arsenal, it never really looked like getting much better. That may be more of an issue for this new Champions League than Mikel Arteta, who seemed content enough to come from Atalanta with a 0-0 draw and an opening point. That was largely thanks to both the intelligence and instinct of David Raya.
The goalkeeper first saved Mateo Retegui’s penalty after a quick run to goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana during a check, before somehow getting up to palm away the forward’s rebound. It ensured yet another clean sheet for Arsenal, their fourth in five games this season. If such defensive assurance is going to bring a lot of nils on one side of the scoreboard, though, the increasing question is whether a certain attacking predictability without Martin Odegaard will also lead to more nils on the other side, too.
David Raya’s double save hailed as ‘the best I’ve ever seen’ by Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta admitted David Raya’s astonishing double save against Atalanta was the best he has seen in his career.
“I witnessed two of the best saves I have probably seen in my career to save us in that moment,” said Gunners boss Arteta.
“Last year he was already very important but this season he has started exceptional. Today he kept us in the game, that’s the reality.
“I don’t know if hes the best in the world but he’s been exceptional for us, that’s for sure.”
Declan Rice names Arsenal star who has gone to the ‘next level’ this season
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has gone to the “next level” this season now he is fully established as the club’s No 1, according to team-mate Declan Rice.
The Spaniard made a stunning double save against Atalanta to help Arsenal claim a point following a 0-0 draw in their Champions League opener in Italy.
It was the fourth time out of five games this season where Raya and the Arsenal defence have kept a clean sheet, and the 29-year-old has been key.
Raya made big saves in the 2-0 win at home to Wolves and the 2-0 win away to Aston Villa at the start of the season which helped Arsenal secure victory.
But his double stop to deny Mateo Retegui’s penalty as well as the follow-up was the best of the lot, and Raya was named player of the match for his heroics.
Next up
Arsenal’s next match is against Manchester City this Sunday, at the Etihad.
Their next match in this competition comes at home to PSG on Tuesday, 1 October.
Arsenal’s UCL fixtures
Below is a recap of Arsenal’s fixtures in this competition. Mark them in the diary!
19 September 2024 20:00 Atalanta BC (A)
1 October 2024 20:00 Paris Saint-Germain (H)
22 October 2024 20:00 FC Shakhtar Donetsk (H)
6 November 2024 20:00 FC Internazionale Milano (A)
26 November 2024 20:00 Sporting Clube de Portugal (A)
11 December 2024 20:00 AS Monaco (H)
22 January 2025 20:00 GNK Dinamo (H)
29 January 2025 20:00 Girona FC (A)
Arteta speaks to TNT
Mikel Arteta is last to speak to TNT, and he calls tonight “a very tough match”.
“We started the game really well, playing in the areas we wanted to play, and after that we could not get any rhythm or momentum.
“At that moment, we needed probably one of the best saves I’ve seen in my career.
“Europe is very different games to the Premier League, but [there are] a lot of positives, and a lot of things to improve.
“It’s a game that demands the best individually. You need to be composed, good in duels, and we missed that.
The Spaniard looks disappointed as he finishes by saying that Arsenal “need to improve”.
Rice speaks to TNT
Rice finishes with question about how he feels at Arsenal, and how the team feels about their upcoming game with City.
“It’s been small margins. I could see the ambition, the trajectory of the club. It’s a long season, we’ve got until May, it’s going to be a long road. [We need to] keep our heads down and I’m sure good things are coming for this club.
“When you’ve got a solid base and a solid group, everyone knows the objective going into the game, and that’s going to be needed at the Etihad on Sunday.
“They can hurt you at any time, but we want to go their this time to win, and it’s crucial for our season”.
Rice speaks to TNT
Rice adds that the Champions League is “something we want to set our sights on, because we’ve got the players to do it”.
“[We’re] delighted with another clean sheet. When you’ve got a triangle like that [of Raya, Gabriel and Saliba], it’s really good, but were gutted in there. We want to win.
On Raya, he adds: “He’s so level headed, he didn’t change his mannerisms at all [when Ramsdale left]. Now he’s fully number one, he’s fully focused, and that’s three games now where he’s made crucial saves.”
Rice is next up in front of the cameras. He says “it’s tough to win away in the Champions League. Really tough”.
“They’ve had the same manager for nine years. The main thing tonight, we defended well again, but with the ball, we could’ve been a little bit better.
“[It’s] really difficult. They’re a really tough tem to crack, it’s hard to adjust [to the way they play].
“I think it’s a good point to start, obviously we want to win every game, but we have a tough group. We’ve got PSG next at home which’ll be a great game.”
FULL-TIME! Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
David Raya is first to speak to TNT, and he says that Atalanta are a “magnificent team”.
“It’s a tough place to come. A point away from home, the first Champions League game, I think we could’ve played more and played a little bit better, but we managed the game well.
On his penalty: “It’s just a penalty, I was lucky to go the right way. I was quick enough to get up and save the rebound, so it’s fantastic to be able tog keep the clean sheet and help the team get a point.
“It was a long wait and a long time to decide, so I just went to speak to the [goalkeeping] coach to have a sense of where to go. Credit to him as well.
When asked what has been behind his good performances of late, he says: “Everyone, the players the staff ,the fans, the belief that they have in me. The goalie coach is so confident in me [too]. I’m in a good way now. I’ve got things to improve , but I’m in a good place right now.”
Source: independent.co.uk
