In the 0-0 draw between Arsenal and Atlanta in the first round of the UEFA Champions League, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya showed remarkable saving ability at critical moments, especially during the VAR's prolonged checking of whether a penalty kick should be awarded, and his tacit cooperation with goalkeeper coach Inakikana became a major highlight of the match. After the match, David Raya was interviewed by the club's officials, sharing his thoughts on the game and his outlook for the future.
Speaking about the scenario when the VAR checked the penalty call for a long period of time, David Raya said, "It was a very long time indeed and I decided to go to the front of the coach's box to talk to Inakikana and we wanted to agree on how to best respond at such a crucial moment. Fortunately, our communication was very effective and in the end I managed to parry the penalty and subsequent second shot. Rice's timely clearance also prevented us from conceding a goal, and I'm very proud of the double save, which was definitely one of the best saves of my career."
On the upcoming weekend's marquee match - against Manchester City - Davy Raya said the whole team is full of fighting spirit but is aware of how tough the game will be. "Of course we want to win this game, but City are a very strong team and they will make it very difficult. We know they will play a one-on-one defensive strategy with a lot of high pressure pressing." David Raya admitted to being a little disappointed with today's result, but he also emphasized, "If we don't play our best, then at least make sure we don't lose the game. Today we got a point and a clean sheet, which sets us up for the rest of the tournament."
Looking ahead, David Raya says the whole team is ready for the challenge: "We are now going to embark on the journey home, but we have to get back to fitness and form as soon as possible. Sunday's game will be a tough one and we face a big challenge, but our aim is to go to the Etihad Stadium and get three points. In order to achieve that, we have to do a lot of the right things, including staying focused and consistent on the defensive end, while looking for opportunities to create good breakthroughs on the offensive end."
