Arsenal fans have given their verdict on the performance that David Raya put in in the 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Arsenal were able to cling on throughout a nervy finish to the game to claim a vital victory in the North London derby.
The first half could not have gone better for the Gunners. Despite Tottenham’s enthusiastic start, Mikel Arteta’s side found themselves 3-0 up at the break.
Two of the visitors’ goals came from set-pieces. The Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover was hailed for his impact on the game by Gary Neville.
David Raya has up-and-down day as Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotspur
Things ought to have been far more comfortable than they ultimately were for the Gunners in the second half. A mistake from goalkeeper David Raya in the 64th minute handed Spurs a lifeline.
The ball came back to the Spanish shot-stopper in his own box, and he had time to pick a pass. However, the 28-year-old fluffed his lines and played the ball straight to Cristian Romero, who then rolled it into the back of the net.
This goal gave the home supporters a huge lift. The noise levels inside the Tottenham Hotspur stadium ratcheted up. The pressure was now on Raya and Arsenal to recover and respond to this setback.
Spurs came forward with renewed belief, and took one step closer to completing a remarkable recovery in the 87th minute when they were awarded a penalty, which Son Heung-min duly converted.
Overall, though, the Gunners were able to keep their heads, and Raya played a huge part in maintaining this composure. He was able to claim a number of crosses that came into his box, nullifying the danger, and giving his teammates some vital seconds to regroup and catch their breath.
After his earlier howler, the goalkeeper’s response was impressive. It has been said that Raya does not get the appreciation he deserves for what he gives to this Arsenal team, but his level-headedness was certainly valuable today.
Arsenal fans have say on David Raya after Spurs win
After the match, plenty of Arsenal fans took to X to share their thoughts on Raya.
One said “David Raya didn’t let that bozo moment have an effect on him. He has redeemed himself. He commanded the box well ever since.”
Another stated “credit to him, his command in the penalty area was a big part of the win today.”
One supporter said “Good enough, he didn’t cave in. Love the composure about him.”
Another chipped in with “This is the mental fortitude we need.”