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David Raya made several crucial saves for Arsenal during their draw at Manchester United, but his post-match remarks is surprising.
Arsenal’s David Raya showcased an incredible performance at Old Trafford, leaving both pundits and fans astounded. However, the Spanish goalkeeper remained unsatisfied with his own efforts. During the Premier League match against Manchester United, which ended in a 1-1 draw, Raya made a series of breathtaking saves, including a crucial double stop in stoppage time to thwart Bruno Fernandes’ attempt at a winning goal. Although he received high praise from notable figures like Roy Keane and Peter Schmeichel, who called his performance “world-class,” Raya humbly dismissed the accolade, expressing his disappointment with certain aspects of his game.
The match itself was a tale of two halves. Manchester United took the lead just before the break when Fernandes curled a free-kick past Raya, who some felt could have positioned himself better to prevent the goal. Arsenal, who had dominated possession but struggled to create clear chances, fought back in the second half. Declan Rice equalized with a superb strike from the edge of the box, but it was Raya who emerged as the hero late on. His acrobatic save to thwart Noussair Mazraoui and a last-gasp double save against Fernandes ensured Arsenal left with a point, preserving their faint hopes in a Premier League title race dominated by leaders Liverpool.
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane was effusive in his praise on Sky Sports, singling out Raya’s save against Mazraoui as “world-class” and “absolutely brilliant.” Peter Schmeichel, a United legend himself, in agreement, marveling at Raya’s agility and shot-stopping ability. Yet, when Schmeichel interviewed Raya after the game, the Arsenal keeper’s response caught him off guard. “I’m intrigued about what you said about offensively I didn’t play well—what does that mean?” Schmeichel asked. Raya explained that while he was pleased with his defensive contributions, he felt his distribution and decision-making in the second half fell short of his own high standards.
“The standards that I give to myself and I with the team, I should’ve been better with decision-making sometimes in the second half where we could’ve played more to break the press,” Raya said, as reported by Metro. “Sometimes United press very well, very aggressively man-to-man, and it’s tough, but my demands are a bit higher than that, and I want to do the best for the team.” His self-criticism stood in stark contrast to the glowing reviews from analysts, highlighting a perfectionist streak that has become a hallmark of his tenure at Arsenal.
Raya’s performance was a redemption arc of sorts after his questionable positioning for Fernandes’ opener. His three crucial saves—against Joshua Zirkzee, Mazraoui, and Fernandes—demonstrated why Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has placed unwavering faith in him since his arrival from Brentford. Yet, for Raya, the draw felt like a missed opportunity. Arsenal, now 15 points behind Liverpool with a game in hand, have gone three matches without a win in the league, a run that includes a loss to West Ham and a draw at Nottingham Forest. While Raya’s heroics kept them in the game, the team’s inability to capitalize on their dominance left a bitter taste.
Teammate Declan Rice acknowledged Raya’s pivotal role, noting to Sky Sports, “The chance at the end with Bruno and David making two great saves, that’s why I say that naivety. It was down to us, and we could have thrown the game away.” Rice’s comments underscored a collective frustration within the Arsenal camp, despite the point gained on a historically tough ground. Manager Mikel Arteta, marking his 200th Premier League game, was similarly pragmatic, buoyed by a recent 7-1 Champions League thrashing of PSV Eindhoven but aware that his side lacked the cutting edge needed to turn draws into wins.
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