David Raya’s exceptional double save for Arsenal vs Aston Villa was “unbelievable”, Gunners supervisor Mikel Arteta has mentioned after his facet’s 2-0 Premier League win at Villa Park.
Spain goalkeeper Raya diverted Amadou Onana’s deflected shot towards the crossbar and saved spectacularly from the rebound to disclaim Ollie Watkins with the rating goalless 9 minutes after the break.
“It was the magic second of the sport,” mirrored Arteta, talking to BBC Radio 5 Reside. “We conceded actually little [chances] and it’s a giant credit score to the staff as this can be a troublesome place to come back. Once we wanted him, he was there and made a terrific save.”
“That’s what I’m there for.” 🧤
David Raya offers element on how he saved Ollie Watkins’ likelihood for Aston Villa 😲 pic.twitter.com/w3SmJWzWwV
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 24, 2024
Villa vs Arsenal: Raya shines
Arteta’s facet continued their excellent begin to the season following their opening 2-0 win at house to Wolves however would have fallen behind had Ollie Watkins not produced an astonishing miss by the striker’s prolific requirements.
Villa’s 19-goal high scorer within the high flight final season rolled a shot broad with solely Raya to beat from shut vary in the course of the first interval.
After Raya’s heroics, Trossard swept in a medical end to place the guests forward within the 67th minute – two minutes after the Belgium ahead had come on – earlier than Emi Martinez was unable to stop Thomas Partey’s fierce shot from distance from reaching the left-hand nook of his web 10 minutes later.
Arsenal had misplaced house and away towards Villa final season, together with a 2-0 defeat at Emirates Stadium on April 14 that dented their failed title bid.
“He gave us a headache now for the weekend!” 😅
Mikel Arteta speaks in regards to the significance of squad depth after Leandro Trossard got here on as an alternative and scored towards Aston Villa 👥 pic.twitter.com/ublMtd1rRb
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 24, 2024
Arteta: Arsenal had ‘character’
“On paper, we must always have gained comfortably and we didn’t, so there was one thing lacking,” Arteta mentioned of these performances.
“Right this moment we did it. Optimistically and particular person performances, we managed to win the sport. All people performed with plenty of character.
“Aston Villa had a extra defensive method than we anticipated however we tailored and the staff performed with plenty of braveness.
“We needed to change momentum. We had a 10-minute hole once we didn’t get the rhythm and so they have been on high. Once we wanted people, they stood up and so they made themselves rely – that’s why we gained the sport.”
Arsenal are subsequent in motion after they host Brighton & Hove Albion – one in all three groups to have taken six factors from six, alongside Arteta’s facet and Manchester Metropolis – on Saturday (12.30pm BST). Villa, who gained 2-1 at West Ham of their opener, are at Leicester Metropolis on the identical day (3pm).
