David Raya pulled off an incredible double save from a penalty as Arsenal secured a 0-0 draw against Italian side Atalanta in their Champions League opener.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…
Mikel Arteta on a tough game…
As expected, it was a very tough match. Not the nicest to watch, because obviously, everything becomes a man-to-man game everywhere. We started really, really well and we were really commanding the game, playing in the areas that we wanted to play and creating one or two chances. After that, we gave a lot of balls away and couldn’t get any rhythm or momentum to play in the areas we wanted. Without conceding almost anything apart from the penalty, which was probably one of the best saves I’ve seen in my career.
Source: TNT Sports
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Gian Piero Gasperini on his side’s performance…
We had the chance to go 1-0 up, with the penalty and the rebound. It’s a pity because [penalty taker Mateo] Retegui had a great game. We had a great defence and played with personality. Arsenal are a great side, difficult to beat. We did what we had to do in this game.
Source: Sky Sports
FT: Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
Atalanta’s prior 23 UEFA Champions League matches saw 3.6 goals per game (40 for, 43 against), the second-most of any team to feature 20+ times in the competition…
There was no such goal feast tonight with David Raya coming to Arsenal's rescue. pic.twitter.com/zlqkfgz9G0
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) September 19, 2024
David Raya on his magnificent double-save…
I was lucky to go the right way and save it. I was lucky to get the rebound too. I was just quick enough to get up and save it. It’s fantastic to be able to keep the clean sheet and to help the team get a point. It was a long time to decide if it was a penalty so I took the decision to go to the side and I went to speak with the goalie coach about where to go and where not to go. He helped me a lot in every aspect so credit to him as well.
Source: TNT Sport
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Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman on the match…
It’s hard against a team like Arsenal to find space, they are a top team. The atmosphere was great and so was our performance.
Source: Uefa.com
Atalanta (1.38) 0-0 (0.76) Arsenal
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) September 19, 2024
Declan Rice on not winning…
We want to win every game, that is the ambition of the players, the manager and the club, but we have a tough group and a point to start is OK. We have PSG next at home which will be a great game, but we know in this format that you have to win. We’ll take each game at a time. We turn back to the Premier League now but the Champions League is what we want to set our sights on because we know we have the players to do it. We are all gutted in there – it is a clean sheet but we want to win.
Source: TNT Sports
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Atalanta’s Marten De Roon on the game and atmosphere…
It was a very balanced game. In truth, we just had the opportunity with the penalty. It’s a tough competition full of top teams. You could notice the atmosphere from the stands, it was incredible under the lights.
Source: Uefa.com
This is the first time #Arsenal have opened a European campaign with a 0-0 draw since 1999-00, which was also in Italy (Fiorentina).
— Tom Ede (@TomEde1) September 19, 2024
Arteta on Calafiori’s impact off the bench…
He was really good as well, he helped us to get some composure and dominate the game better.
Source: TNT Sports
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Rio Ferdinand on Arsenal’s defensive solidity…
Arsenal are resolute now. They are a team that are hard to play against, home or away, and that is not what you want as an opposition player. They are a team that other teams are looking at and thinking, ‘I’d rather give that one a miss.’
Source: TNT Sports
David Raya had a just 3% chance of saving a goal, based on the xGOT of these two shots.
World class goalkeeping. pic.twitter.com/0D21u0F9Va
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) September 19, 2024
Martin Keown on Raya’s penalty heroics…
From the start David Raya stands tall, doesn’t move and then guesses the right way and saves the ball. But the key thing is that he doesn’t give up on it and believes in himself. The goal is gaping and Mateo Retegui should score but take nothing away from how quickly Raya got back up and across to save again. That is four in the last eight penalties he has saved now. He is the player at Arsenal at the moment that seems to have gone into different gears. To have had the presence of mind before the penalty to stop and go over to the bench, come back and be measured and calm. It was a waiting game with the VAR check.
Source: TNT Sports
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Declan Rice on supporting Martinelli through a tough patch…
One thing with Gabi is he’s quiet but he’s so tenacious. You see him in training, he’s always trying to get himself into the right areas, he really wants it, he’ll have wanted to do better with the chance he had tonight when he sees it back but after training he’s working on those types of things with our attacking coach, cutting balls across the edge of the box, scoring goals, I’m sure it’s going to come for him. We really need him, he’s a massive player.
Source: TNT Sports
David Raya's save from Mateo Retegui's spot-kick made him the first Arsenal goalkeeper to save a Champions League penalty (excl. shootouts) in over a decade.
Three most recent:
Fabianski vs Bayern Munich 11/03/2014
Fabianski vs Partizan 28/09/2010
Lehmann vs Villarreal…— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) September 19, 2024
Honestly I don’t know how much will Martin be improved. He was the same guy 3 years ago. Look at Saka, he improved in every possible things, year after year. I hope Martin can improve though but the clock is clearly ticking on him.
If we bring in a Nico Williams (or someone like that if we can’t get him) it does kill Martinelli. We know Arteta is ruthless.