David 'The Cat' Raya purrs for The Arsenal as Atalanta pay the penalty
Raya's remarkable reactions hailed by Arteta, who calls his Champions League heroics 'one of the best saves I've seen in my career'
Buongiorno!
Buon Venerdì from here in Bergamo, northern Italy.
A Happy Friday it certainly will be for David Raya, after his remarkable double save from Mateo Retegui’s initial penalty and headed rebound helped Arsenal to a clean sheet and an important point on Thursday evening.
I watched on from the Atalanta press box amid a fevered atmosphere at the sold-out Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, as Raya performed heroics to keep out the home side’s No23.
In front of 22,667 fans - whose relentless noise made it sound like so many more had crammed into this atmospheric stadium - Raya’s penalty save was good enough, but his reaction to scoop away Retegui’s headed rebound, was absolutely superb.
Speaking afterwards, in his press conference that I attended, underneath the Gewiss Stadium’s main stand (complete with white marble statues at the top of its protected neo-classical facade outside), Arteta called it “one of the best saves I’ve seen in my career.”
Pre-match Tifo display at Atalanta’s Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia. CREDIT:
Pre-match Tifo display at Atalanta’s Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia. CREDIT:
Layth (@laythy29)
Pre-match Tifo display at Atalanta’s Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia. CREDIT:
Layth (@laythy29)
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Letter From Bergamo
Here’s the link to read my pre-match colour feature for the Irish Examiner newspaperfrom here in Bergamo. Hope you enjoy it.
Stunning views over Bergamo from Citta Alta, the upper town. CREDIT:
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Statues on the neo-classical facade of the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia. CREDIT:
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DAILY LIST:
I - Make sure I get to Milan Malpensa airport to make my flight back home this afternoon. Time is tight as I need to get a train from Bergamo central station to Millano Centrale before boarding their version of the Stanstead Express, so I’d better leave you shortly.
Not least because I drank a whole bottle of Brut back in my room at 2am, once work had finished. I nabbed it from an empty executive box after the match last night, after a jobsworth steward sent me the wrong way for the post-match press conferences. Let’s keep it as our little secret shall we, compensation for the pain of dealing with jobsworths’ in high-vis…
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MATCH REPORT
Here’s my official match report for the Morning Star newspaper from the press box, at Atalanta on Thursday evening.
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David ‘Cat’ Raya is Arsenal hero after remarkable double save from penalty
Atalanta 0–0 Arsenal: Champions League report by Layth Yousif in Bergamo
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hailed keeper David Raya’s remarkable double save from a penalty that earned a hard-fought Champions League point at Atalanta.
Raya proved to be the Gunners spot-kick saving hero after denying Mateo Retegui with a superb double block on Thursday evening in northern Italy.
In the city of Bergamo's passionately atmospheric cauldron that was Atalanta’s Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, the Gunners goalkeeper kept out a second half effort from the spot by Atalanta’s No23, before following up with an even better athletic block moments later from Retegui’s headed rebound, to deny the home side victory.
Speaking after the match in his post-match press conference that the Morning Star attended, Arteta described it as “one of the best saves I’ve seen in my career.”
The previous evening Arteta had revealed the Gunners talisman captain Martin Odegaard had picked up a ‘substantial’ ankle ligament injury that would rule the influential Norway captain out for an unspecified period of time, even if Arsenal welcomed back Declan Rice, who returned to the starting XI following his controversial sending off against Brighton at the end of August.
Amid the relentlessly ear-splitting cacophony of noise, provided by Atalanta’s passionate fans throughout the match - after serving up a colourful blue and white Tifo display before kick-off - Bukayo Saka’s early low free kick forced a full-stretch save from Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi. Prior to the Rimini-born 24-year-old thwarting Thomas Partey’s follow-up with an excellent double save of his own.
Just before the half hour mark, Charles De Ketelaere’s effort flew across David Raya and just the wrong side of the Arsenal’s keeper’s far post, in a reminder that Gian Piero Gasperini’s current Europa League holders are emphatically not Champions League cannon fodder.
Far from it, as, emboldened by the booming home support they pushed the visitor’s backline deeper and deeper – even if, despite the tremendous atmosphere, the game flickered, rather flamed, in a goalless opening 45 minutes
Little did we know the match was about to burst into life two minutes after the interval, when the disappointing Partey tangled with tangled with No15 Marten de Roon in the box, leaving referee Clement Turpin no choice but to award a penalty – even if VAR took an interminable age to confirm.
Up stepped Retegui to take the fateful penalty.
As the 22,667 spectators in the sold-out stadium fell momentarily silent for the first time during the game, in expectation of a successful outcome, a stuttering run up from Atalanta’s No32 saw Raya guess correctly and pull off an excellent save.
Better was to come for Spain’s Euro 2024 winner, as the Gunners keeper – who celebrated his 29th birthday by keeping a clean sheet during last Sunday’s North London derby victory - pulled off a second, arguably better save, to deny the crestfallen Retegui, by displaying remarkable agility to keep the ball out.
It was good to note the continued upward trajectory of Raya’s Arsenal career, as well as his burgeoning confidence, following the travails of his first season, when usurping fans’ favourite Aaron Ramsdale last term.
Speaking after the game, a modest Raya said: “The players, the staff, the fans, they have belief in me…and I just have to deliver for the club,” adding: “I’m in a good way now. I’ve got things to improve as always, but I’m in a good place now.”
Once the ball was cleared the Arsenal team surged over to the former Brentford keeper to acclaim his brilliance, after demonstrating such outstanding anticipation, reflexes and bravery in making the pair of superb stops in a matter of moments – keeping the score goalless and leaving Atalanta frustrated.
As the match progressed it was Arsenal who were left frustrated with only 15 minutes remaining, when Gabi Martinelli fired over when well-placed, leaving jack-in-the-box boss Arteta frustrated on the sidelines.
With Spurs beaten in the North London derby last weekend, and Manchester City up next at in the north west on Sunday, a hard-fought point at the intimidating Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia was well-earned by hero Raya.
No wonder Gasperini was impressed, praising Raya by describing him as a “cat”, even if Atalanta’s experienced boss was far from the only one purring over the Arsenal keeper's exploits.
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My Arsenal Player Ratings:
David Raya made an outstanding double save from a penalty as Arsenal drew at Italian side Atalanta in their Champions League opener on Thursday evening in northern Italy.
The 29-year-old Euro 2024 winner with Spain got down low to his right to keep out Mateo Retegui's spot-kick - prior to displaying superb reactions to somehow fly across his goal to scoop the striker's follow-up header off the line.
The outstanding double save earned Mikel Arteta's Gunners a valuable point in the goalless draw, played out in front of an atmospheric crowd in Bergamo.
Arsenal Player Ratings:
David Raya: 9/10 - Did not have to make a save in the opening 45 minutes – then made two in a matter of moments as the 29-year-old performed heroics to not only save Mateo Retegui’s original penalty, but the follow-up too. Outstanding reflexes, anticipation and bravery. Superb
Jurrien Timber: 7/10 - Solid at left-back while leaving Atalanta's De Ketelaere Dutch defender frustrated during intermittent forways forward
Gabriel: 7/10 - Reliable Brazilian was involved in a personal duel with Retegui at times
William Saliba: 7/10 - Helped the Gunners backline to what could prove to be an important point in northern Italy. Pulled off a perfectly executed last-gasp sliding challenge to deny Lookman with moments remaining
Ben White: 7/10 - Faced an interesting challenge against former Leicester forward Lookman at times
Declan Rice: 7/10 - Good to have the England midfielder back in the starting Xi following his controversial sending off against Brighton at the end of August
Thomas Partey: 5/10 - A big few weeks are required of the experienced former Atletico Madrid midfielder following Mikel Arteta’s confirmation that Gunners captain Martin Odegaard picked up a ‘significant’ ankle ligament injury ankle. Not as influential as Arteta would have liked while also giving away the penalty when tangling with No15 Marten de Roon
Bukayo Saka: 7/10 - Forced an excellent low save from Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi with an early free-kick
Gabi Martinelli: 5/10 - Fired over the bar early on and struggled to influence the game from the left flank. Missed a change when well-placed late on, much to the chagrin of his boss on the sidelines
Jesus: 6.5/10 - Replaced with Sunday’s trip to City in mind
Kai Havertz: 6/10 - Interesting to note the attacker played more as part of a front two at times, rather than as the main striker, or even as part of an attacking triumvirate in a midfield three
Substitutes
SUB: Jorginho (58' for Partey) - 6.5/10 -
SUB: Leandro Trossard (58' for Jesus) - 6.5/10 -
SUB: Raheem Sterling (73' for Saka) - 7/10 - Champions League bow in red and white
SUB: Riccardo Calafiori (73' for Timber) - 6/10
Subs not used: Jack Porter (GK),
Neto (GK),
Jakub Kiwior,
Myles Lewis-Skelly,
Ethan Nwaneri,
Jimi Gower,
Salah Oulad M'Hand,
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji