David Raya was the hero for Arsenal last night as the Spanish international saved two penalties to help the Gunners progress in the UEFA Champions League against FC Porto.
Given Arsenal’s loss last year to Sporting Lisbon in a shootout, few fans expected the north London side to turn the tide against Porto, with the round of 16 curse also looming large over the Emirates Stadium.
Yet Raya came up big with two huge saves to book Arsenal’s place into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in over a decade, and in doing so, made history.
David Raya breaks Arsenal record in shootout performance vs FC Porto
As per Squawka, Raya has now saved more penalties for the Gunners in Champions League penalty shootouts than any other keeper in Arsenal’s history, with the Spaniard the first to save a spot-kick since 2009.
Given Arsenal’s rocky history with goalkeepers who can save penalties over the years, this stat is one that will be an eye-opener for supporters given just how impressive Raya was during the shootout.
Indeed, the 27-year-old goalkeeper had a presence between the sticks that made saving Porto’s penalties look easy, with Raya even admitting that he could have saved a third spot-kick.
It’s been some time since Arsenal’s last reliable penalty saviour, and in the quest to win the Champions League, a new hero has emerged from the most unlikely of sources in Raya.
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Replacing Aaron Ramsdale last summer was always going to be a controversial decision, especially after Raya’s first few games for Arsenal were far from convincing.
Yet the on-loan Brentford star has been slowly putting performances together and has begun to look at home between the sticks, with last night the standout moment Raya needed to prove who is the man now.
Many fans will still feel bad for Ramsdale and will prefer the England international to start, but Raya showed against Porto that he is the man Arteta trusted for a reason, with the shot-stopper writing a new chapter in Arsenal’s history.
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