David Raya produced an astonishing double save to deny Mateo Retegui’s penalty as Arsenal earned a hard-fought draw against Atalanta in their Champions League opener.
The Spanish goalkeeper made a low save to his right to keep out Retegui’s spot-kick, and then, incredibly, scrambled across his line to stop the striker’s rebound header. This moment of brilliance stood out in an otherwise uneventful match in Bergamo, where clear chances were few and far between.
Raya's heroics were the only major action of note, as Arsenal struggled to create opportunities. They went without a shot for nearly an hour, from the 18th to the 75th minute. Atalanta, last season’s Europa League winners, also managed just two shots on target — both coming in a double save by Marco Carnesecchi, who denied Bukayo Saka’s free-kick and then blocked Thomas Partey’s follow-up.
Raya’s Game-Changing Double Save
The game’s pivotal moment came when Thomas Partey clipped Ederson in the box, leading to a penalty for Atalanta. After a long VAR review, the decision stood, and Mateo Retegui stepped up to take the spot-kick. Raya, after consulting with Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana, pulled off a spectacular double save. He first parried the penalty and then raced across his goal to claw away Retegui’s follow-up header, preventing a certain goal.
Raya's save is being hailed as one of the best in recent memory, drawing comparisons to Arsenal legend David Seaman’s iconic save against Sheffield United in the 2003 FA Cup semi-final.
A Valuable Point for Arsenal
Despite the lack of attacking spark, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will likely be satisfied with the point, considering the quality of their opponents and the busy week ahead, with Premier League fixtures against Tottenham and Manchester City. Atalanta, with their European pedigree, are a tough side, making the draw a credible result for the Gunners.
Gabriel Jesus captained the side in the absence of injured skipper Martin Odegaard, with Kai Havertz featuring in midfield. However, clear chances were few for Arsenal, aside from Saka and Havertz's early efforts and Gabriel Martinelli’s two shots over the bar.
As Arsenal shifts focus to their crucial match against Manchester City, Raya’s remarkable performance will remain a highlight, giving the Gunners a solid start in their Champions League campaign.
Player of the Match: David Raya
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