Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya does not believe that his incredible save against Aston Villa was the “best” of his career as the Gunners prevail 2-0 at Villa Park.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya does not believe that the wonder save he produced from Aston Villa‘s Ollie Watkins was the “best” he has ever made in his career.
The former Brentford man made it two clean sheets from two games as Arsenal made it two wins from two in the 2024-25 season, prevailing 2-0 against Unai Emery‘s men in the West Midlands.
Last term, Villa were the only team to do the double over Arsenal in the Premier League, and the Lions were agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the second half at Villa Park, only for Raya to produce a moment of brilliance.
The Spaniard firstly had to backtrack to try to reach a deflected Amadou Onana effort, but his reach was futile as the ball crashed back into the box off the bar, and Watkins would ostensibly head home the rebound with Raya sprawled on the ground.
However, to the astonishment of the crowd, Raya sprung back up and dived to his left to palm Watkins’s header away, in what will surely be regarded as one of the best saves of the Premier League season.
WHAT. A. SAVE.
World-class from David Raya! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/XJQVTwE7ef
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 24, 2024
Raya: ‘Watkins save was not my best one’
The 28-year-old’s magnificent stop was considered a turning point in the game, as Arsenal quickly took control of the second half and propelled themselves into the ascendancy through Leandro Trossard‘s crisp finish.
The substitute’s opener preceded another goal from outside the area from Thomas Partey, although Emiliano Martinez did not do himself justice as he let the Ghanaian’s 20-yard curler slip through his grasp, much to the amusement of the Arsenal fans just to the left of him.
While Martinez has suffered several misfortunes against Arsenal since leaving the club, Raya’s save was lauded from all corners, although the 28-year-old played down his individual moment of stardom when speaking to Sky Sports News.
“Everyone is a hero because we work together. It’s not just me saving the ball. It was a crucial moment in the game where it was 0-0 and they had chances and I was there to save Ollie’s [Watkins] header,” Raya said.
“I think of what I remember, it’s a shot from outside the box. I’m on the floor so I try to get up and I can’t reach it. I just see Ollie going in there so I react as quickly as possible I put my hand there and there’s no one there to get the ball.
Raya credits “luck” after Watkins wonder save
© Imago
“It’s just a repetition of things. You do drills and have to save one ball and get up to save another. This time it paid off. This is a reaction one, I don’t think it’s my best save. I try to help the team as much as possible to win games.”
Elaborating to BBC Match of the Day, Raya – whose defence switched off while Onana’s deflected strike dropped – admitted he was fortunate that none of Watkins’s teammates were positioned to tap home the follow-up.
“It’s one of them where you don’t know how you did it. I don’t remember much of it. OIllie [Watkins] was there and I got a good hand and I saved it and I was lucky no one was there,” Raya added.
“No game is easy in the Premier League, you have to fight and dig deep and we did that today. Villa are a very good side and they created chances but we were there to defend them.”
Sitting third in the Premier League table behind the only other two sides to have won their first two games so far – Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion – Arsenal host the latter at the Emirates next Saturday lunchtime.
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