In their inaugural Champions League matchup against Atalanta, Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, said that David Raya’s double save was perhaps the finest of his career.

After a tense match at Atalanta, Arsenal managed to draw thanks to a brilliant double save by Raya. The Spanish goalkeeper stopped Mateo Retegui’s low penalty kick from 12 yards out with lightning-fast reactions. Then, for the fourth time in five games, he was able to keep his sheet clean by scooping the ball off the line.

“In my career, I think it’s one of the finest saves I have ever seen. He was amazing. Despite a new setting, last year was already quite outstanding and stunning. He’s had a great start to the season; after making a stop against Villa, he kept us in the match tonight. After the game, Arteta said, “That’s the reality.”

At this point, you need it from your keeper. I’m quite glad that he’s in this shape right now. The first one was executed so well that it was astonishing. Inaki, the goalkeeping coach, understood exactly which direction to go. However, the second one was quite similar to the Villa one since I believed the ball was in.

“We signed him when he was already excellent, but it wasn’t simple at all to manage at this level, particularly considering the circumstances surrounding his arrival. Nevertheless, he is demonstrating his character and his leadership position within the squad. That’s crucial, he continued.

Raya believes that the two saves he made to earn a point against Atlanta are among his top three of his career.

He said that he got the courage to perform the miraculous save thanks to a conversation he had with goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana during the protracted VAR inspection.

“Because the decision was taking an extremely long time, I made the choice to go to the bench and talk to him about what we could do to improve our chances of saving, and it worked out.

“I saved it and then I was lucky enough to get up again and get the rebound, and then, luckily enough then Declan I think it was managed to kick the ball for a corner, so obviously I’m delighted with the double save,” Raya said.

“This is among my career’s best three, in my opinion. “Obviously, Aston Villa helped us win the match and all, so that makes it even more memorable, but winning in the Champions League is an incredible feeling,” he said.