£27m Arsenal star blasted for doing ‘absolutely nothing’ despite win over Liverpool

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Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has come under fire for his role in the goal Liverpool scored at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was partially responsible for allowing Liverpool back into the game as the visitors grabbed an equalising goal on the stroke of half-time at the Emirates Stadium. 

The Gunners utterly dominated the first-half against Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League leaders on Sunday afternoon. However, despite the Reds not having registered a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, they somehow found themselves heading in level at 1-1 at the break. 

In the third minute of added on time at the end of the half, William Saliba looked to shepherd the ball back into the gloves of Raya, under pressure from Liverpool attacker Luis Diaz. Whilst the French centre-back ought to have taken the opportunity to simply clear the ball, the Spanish shot-stopper was also hesitant to come off his line. This created the opening for Diaz to get a toe in and prod the ball against Gabriel Magalhaes. The ball ricocheted off of the unfortunate Brazilian defender and trickled over the line. 

There will be a debate as to whether Raya or Saliba was more at fault in this instance. 

As far as former Scotland striker Andy Gray was concerned, the £27 million goalkeeper has to take responsibility for the situation. Speaking on beIN Sports, he said, “I want better from my goalkeeper. I want my goalkeeper to come out and go to ground early…He does absolutely nothing.”

David Raya once again in the spotlight at Arsenal

Arsenal signed Raya from Brentford in the recent summer transfer window, and he quickly usurped Aaron Ramsdale in the pecking order at the club. This was a controversial decision for Mikel Arteta to undertake. Ramsdale is a popular figure at the Emirates Stadium, and the manager came under fire for his treatment of the 25-year-old England man.

Raya has not always looked entirely comfortable between the sticks for the Gunners. After some early mistakes in his Arsenal career, plenty of fans were calling on Arteta to reinstate Ramsdale to the starting XI. Given Ramsdale’s summer departure is now thought to be an inevitability, Raya has to quickly convince his remaining detractors that he is the right man to be the Arsenal No. 1.

The 28-year-old will want to quickly forget this confused moment against Liverpool, as will Saliba. Both players are fortunate that Arsenal found a way to win the game.