Kai Havertz declared David Raya the best goalkeeper in the world after his saves helped Arsenal secure a 1-0 win over Sporting in their Champions League quarter-final first leg in Lisbon.
Havertz scored the decisive goal, controlling a pass from fellow substitute Gabriel Martinelli and finishing coolly in the 91st minute, but he was eager to praise their goalkeeper’s contribution.
Raya made a string of vital saves to preserve Arsenal’s clean sheet, tipping a ferocious Maxi Araujo drive onto the bar early on and later pulling off a brilliant near-post stop from Geny Catamo.
The saves were just the latest examples of Raya coming to Arsenal’s rescue this season, with manager Mikel Arteta having recently faced criticism for starting Kepa Arrizabalaga instead of him in the Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City.
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Mikel Arteta praised his side’s team spirit after Kai Havertz sealed a 1-0 win over Sporting
“Unbelievable,” Havertz told Amazon Prime of Raya
“I think he is still underestimated in the world of football, but for me, the last two seasons, the best ‘keeper in the world.
“He’s outstanding. He has saved us so many times and we’re very glad to have him.”
Arteta also praised the Spain international’s contribution.
“He had two moments where he made two big saves,” he told Amazon Prime. “And that’s the Champions League, the Champions League is always decided in the boxes because there’s so much quality.
“At the moment he’s phenomenal and he has been extraordinary since he joined us. We are very lucky to have him.”
Raya: First save was a turning point
Raya himself felt his early save from Araujo, after a superb, outside-of-the-boot pass from Sporting centre-back Ousmane Diomande, was crucial to the outcome of the game.
“I think that’s a turning moment,” he added to Amazon Prime. “It was a quick transition from them and a great strike but I managed to get a fingertip to it to hit the bar. It’s one of those moments that can change games.
“It’s something that I’m there for. I’m trying to help the team as much as possible in any single action, not just defending but commanding and on the ball, so, delighted with myself performance and, of course, the win.”
David Raya made five saves during the game in Lisbon
Raya also displayed his composure in possession, completing 26 of his 28 attempted passes, and his ability to anticipate danger behind Arsenal’s back-line when he headed away a long pass near the halfway line to prevent a Sporting counter.
“You have to be focused no matter what you’re doing, whether you’re touching the ball or not,” he added.
“That’s something I’ve worked on over the years, you learn from previous situations where your head maybe goes and you’re not ready.
“I try to be ready as much as possible during the game with some tricks to keep my mind focused on the ball.”
Speaking in his press conference about Raya’s role, Arteta added: “That’s the evolution of the game, I think, in every role.
David Raya speaks to Mikel Arteta during the game
“The ‘keeper in the last few years has changed and evolved rapidly, and the amount of things that he has to do, it’s a lot.
“But many positions have very similar situations and demands right now, and the players have to adapt to that.
“And when you have, apart from the qualities of David, the courage, the will to do certain things, that’s when you can reach another level.”
Stats show Raya’s value to Arsenal
There is of course plenty of competition to be considered the world’s best in his position, but Raya’s numbers in the Champions League certainly put him in a league of his own.
In addition to keeping the most clean sheets, with 13 from 23 games since the start of last season, putting him ahead of Yann Sommer, who has 11 in 24 for Inter, Raya has outstanding underlying statistics.
In the same timeframe, the 30-year-old has only conceded 12 goals from shots on target worth 21.07 xG, meaning he has prevented just over nine expected goals.
Expected goals prevented is the difference between actual goals conceded and expected goals on target (xGOT)
It is a statistic which underlines his shot-stopping prowess and it is a far higher total than any other goalkeeper has managed in the Champions League in the last two seasons, with Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois next on the list on 6.12.
Arsenal will hope his outstanding form continues in next week’s second leg and beyond as they fight to win the Champions League for the first time in their history, helped by a goalkeeper demonstrating his world-class credentials.
