Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler was blown away by what he saw from one Arsenal player on matchday 18.
After Manchester City won late at Nottingham Forest, Arsenal knew they had to go and beat Brighton to reclaim the top spot.
Fortunately, the Gunners did just that, even with Declan Rice at right-back, as Mikel Arteta’s injury-plagued squad beat the Seagulls 2-1.
Martin Odegaard scored his first goal of the season in a top display; however, it was another player who truly won Arsenal the game.
Who was your Arsenal Man of the Match after 2-1 win against Brighton?
Fabian Hurzeler says David Raya is one of the world’s best
After Brighton got a goal back, pressure mounted on Arsenal, but David Raya was on hand to save the day.
Ian Wright says Raya won Arsenal the game against Brighton, and Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler suggested that he thinks the same.
In the 76th minute, Yankuba Minteh tried his luck on goal with a tremendous curling shot, an attempt that looked destined to make the net rustle.
Is this David Raya’s best-ever save in an Arsenal shirt? If not, which is?
Instead, Raya somehow tipped the effort over the bar, earning praise from Hurzeler.
“I had a perfect view of the Raya save,” Hurzeler told Brighton’s official website post-match.
He admitted, “I wanted a perfect view of a goal but he showed why he [Raya] is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.”
Paul Merson described Raya’s save as ‘off the charts’, a fair evaluation for a game-winning moment from the Spaniard.
Raya marked career milestone with sensational save against Brighton
Raya has been brilliant for Arsenal, not just this season but ever since he arrived at the club to replace Aaron Ramsdale.
The Gunners knew they were recruiting a top goalkeeper when signing Raya from Brentford, which is supported by his record in the Premier League.
Change my mind, David Raya is the best Arsenal goalkeeper of the Emirates era.
Against Brighton, the 30-year-old earned his 150th Premier League appearance, and in that time, no goalkeeper has kept as many clean sheets.
With 58 clean sheets in 150 Premier League appearances, Raya is ahead of the rest, but would’ve wished he could’ve ended matchday 18 on 59.
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