Manchester United’s Goal of the Season winner has taken a moment to single out an Arsenal star.
Patrick Dorgu claimed the award for his stunning half-volley at the Emirates back in January, a goal that helped United to a 3-2 victory, delivering the Gunners their first home defeat of the season.
Speaking on Inside Carrington, the Danish wing-back was asked whether he knew it was going in from the moment it left his boot.
His answer gave a nod to the man he had to beat. ‘I’ve hit it quite well, so I was confident, but obviously Raya is a good goalkeeper, so you never know, but I was really happy to see it go in,’ Dorgu said.”
TRUE or FALSE: David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world…
The goal itself was, in fairness, a cracker. A one-two with Bruno Fernandes, another one-two, then a bobbling half-volley from 20 yards that crashed in off the underside of the crossbar.
Contentious VAR verdict attached. You may remember it.
David Raya is widely considered the best goalkeeper in the Premier League
Dorgu is not alone in his praise for Raya. Many consider the Spaniard the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, and when a player scores a goal of that quality and still feels the need to credit the keeper, it says everything about the level Raya operates at.
The context of the game itself is worth revisiting, even if Arsenal fans might reasonably prefer not to.
January was a month that could have defined their title challenge. Draws at home to Liverpool and away at Nottingham Forest, then that 3-2 defeat to United — a huge missed opportunity to pull clear during Manchester City’s injury crisis.
A Martin Zubimendi error gifted United an equaliser after Arsenal had gone ahead, before Dorgu’s half-volley put the visitors in front. Mikel Merino levelled, then Matheus Cunha struck from range to seal it.
City, meanwhile, simply went out and bought Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo to solve their problems, as City tend to do.
Four months on, Arsenal arrive at the final two games of the season two points clear at the top, on the verge of winning the title, with a Champions League final on the horizon.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
