Arsenal News : Raya Shines as Arsenal Regain Top Spot with Hard-Fought Win
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised goalkeeper David Raya for his exceptional performance in their 2-0 away win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Raya, at the age of 28, made several key saves, including a crucial stop against Joao Gomes in the first half. This stop was particularly important as the game was scoreless at the time. Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard scored the goals that secured the victory for Arsenal.
Arsenal are back on top of the Premier League table, despite having played an extra game compared to their closest competitors, Manchester City and Liverpool. This strong position is largely due to their winning streak away from home, which includes victories over West Ham, Burnley, Sheffield United, Manchester City, Brighton, and most recently, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Goalkeeper David Raya, who is on loan from Brentford with a permanent transfer planned for the summer, has been a key factor in this success. He’s played every game and his manager is showering him with praise.
Arsenal News : Mikel Arteta emphasized the importance of Raya’s save against Gomes, mentioning that it came at a critical moment when the score was still 0-0. He acknowledged that conceding a goal at that point could have significantly impacted the game’s outcome.
- Arteta highlighted Raya’s incredible save, calling it crucial for maintaining their clean sheet and allowing them to capitalize on their chances. He praised Raya’s overall consistency throughout the season, acknowledging the statistics that back it up.
- Regarding the winning streak, he acknowledged the difficulty of achieving it, especially in the Premier League. He gave immense credit to his players for creating a strong foundation for victories.
- Looking ahead, he acknowledged the upcoming challenge – a major London derby against a strong opponent in good form, but expressed his confidence and called for a strong performance in front of their home crowd.
Key events in the second half:
Arsenal’s defense wobbled in the first half when Kiwior was dispossessed by Gomes, but Raya came up with a fantastic save around the 30-minute mark to keep the game scoreless. The Gunners capitalized in the second half. Trossard broke the deadlock with a goal in the 75th minute, and then captain Odegaard secured the win with another goal in stoppage time.
Arteta’s interview with Match of the Day:
- Praised his team’s response: Arteta was very proud of his team’s reaction after their recent European defeat. He felt they bounced back well and deserved the win.
- Highlighted clean sheet and title race: He emphasized the importance of another clean sheet, keeping their defensive momentum going. He acknowledged their disappointment in the European loss but stressed their position back on top of the league with five games remaining.
- Respect for Wolves’ challenge: Despite the 2-0 lead, Arteta remained cautious, acknowledging Wolves’ capabilities. He mentioned the changes they made that caused some problems for Arsenal.
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