
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal began their 2024/25 Champions League journey with an away game against Atalanta, the Europa League winners, at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo. The game, which took place on Thursday, was a tense affair but lacked significant excitement. Arsenal found it difficult to break through Atalanta’s sturdy defense, resulting in a largely uneventful first half.
The match came alive in the second half when Atalanta was awarded a penalty. Thomas Partey fouled Ederson inside the box, leading to a penalty opportunity for the Italian side. Mateo Retegui stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya rose to the occasion, saving both the initial shot and the rebound with remarkable skill.
After the game, Raya reflected on his performance, saying, “It was just a penalty, and I was fortunate to dive in the right direction. I was unlucky with the rebound going back to him, but I was quick enough to save it again. Keeping a clean sheet and securing at least a point for the team feels great.”
Fans quickly responded to his comments on social media. One fan praised his reflexes, writing, “I wouldn’t call anticipation luck; he showed fantastic instinctive goalkeeping.” Another added, “Very humble. God bless.” A third fan remarked, “What a man, brilliant saves, but I still think it’s luck!” Another echoed, “Humility at its best.”
Raya further elaborated on the match, saying, “As we anticipated, it was a tough game, though not the most exciting to watch. We started strong and controlled the game initially, but we gave away possession too often and lost our momentum. There were plenty of positives, but also many areas for improvement.”
With the Champions League opener behind them, Arsenal now shifts their focus to a highly anticipated Premier League clash against defending champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The team will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for this crucial domestic encounter.
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