David Raya’s remarkable double save for Arsenal vs Aston Villa was “unbelievable”, Gunners manager Mikel Arteta has said after his side’s 2-0 Premier League win at Villa Park.
Spain goalkeeper Raya diverted Amadou Onana’s deflected shot against the crossbar and saved spectacularly from the rebound to deny Ollie Watkins with the score goalless nine minutes after the break.
“It was the magic moment of the game,” reflected Arteta, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live. “We conceded really little [chances] and it’s a big credit to the team as this is a difficult place to come. When we needed him, he was there and made a terrific save.”
“That’s what I’m there for.” 🧤
David Raya gives detail on how he saved Ollie Watkins’ chance for Aston Villa 😲 pic.twitter.com/w3SmJWzWwV
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 24, 2024
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Villa vs Arsenal: Raya shines
Arteta’s side continued their perfect start to the season following their opening 2-0 win at home to Wolves but would have fallen behind had Ollie Watkins not produced an astonishing miss by the striker’s prolific standards.
Villa’s 19-goal top scorer in the top flight last season rolled a shot wide with only Raya to beat from close range during the first period.
After Raya’s heroics, Trossard swept in a clinical finish to put the visitors ahead in the 67th minute – two minutes after the Belgium forward had come on – before Emi Martinez was unable to prevent Thomas Partey’s fierce shot from distance from reaching the left-hand corner of his net 10 minutes later.
Arsenal had lost home and away against Villa last season, including a 2-0 defeat at Emirates Stadium on April 14 that dented their failed title bid.
“He gave us a headache now for the weekend!” 😅
Mikel Arteta speaks about the importance of squad depth after Leandro Trossard came on as a substitute and scored against Aston Villa 👥 pic.twitter.com/ublMtd1rRb
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 24, 2024
Arteta: Arsenal had ‘personality’
“On paper, we should have won comfortably and we didn’t, so there was something missing,” Arteta said of those performances.
“Today we did it. With a bit of luck and individual performances, we managed to win the game. Everybody played with a lot of personality.
“Aston Villa had a more defensive approach than we expected but we adapted and the team played with a lot of courage.
“We had to change momentum. We had a 10-minute gap when we didn’t get the rhythm and they were on top. When we needed individuals, they stood up and they made themselves count – that’s why we won the game.”
Arsenal are next in action when they host Brighton & Hove Albion – one of three teams to have taken six points from six, alongside Arteta’s side and Manchester City – on Saturday (12.30pm BST). Villa, who won 2-1 at West Ham in their opener, are at Leicester City on the same day (3pm).
