Arteta Praises Raya After Nail-Biting Save in Arsenal’s Win Over Chelsea

Mikel Arteta expressed immense relief and admiration for goalkeeper David Raya after his last-minute save helped Arsenal secure a vital 2-1 victory against Chelsea. The Gunners remain at the top of the Premier League, and Arteta admitted his “heart almost stopped” during the tense moment.

Key Highlights

• Raya’s crucial save kept Arsenal in pole position in the Premier League title race.
• Arteta praised Raya’s ability to maintain focus during critical moments.
• Arsenal rebounded from a disappointing draw against Wolves with back-to-back London derby victories.
• Declan Rice’s fitness is a concern ahead of the upcoming match against Brighton.

In the tightly contested match, Arsenal’s Jurriën Timber netted a header from a Declan Rice corner, which came after Chelsea had equalized through an own goal from Piero Hincapié. With Chelsea reduced to ten men after Pedro Neto received a red card, it seemed Arsenal was poised to extend their lead.

However, Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho threatened to snatch an equalizer, but Raya’s stunning full-stretch save thwarted those hopes. “David is one of our leaders without a doubt,” Arteta stated. “He knows how to maintain his focus and decide a match when you need it. The save he made in the last action was unbelievable, and my heart almost stopped, but he kept it out again. It was a fabulous save, but we shouldn’t have been in that position. I try to stay calm, but we weren’t getting the dominance we wanted against ten men.”

Arteta emphasized the importance of winning, saying, “Everyone is suffering, and the margins are so tight, but it’s good. In March, we are in every competition and we are right up there.” Following a disappointing draw against Wolves, Arsenal’s return to form has been impressive, highlighted by victories over Tottenham and Chelsea. Arteta praised the team’s reaction, saying, “The way we have reacted to that disappointing result has been top. The feeling that you have to continue to win is crucial in this league.”

As they prepare to face Brighton away on Wednesday, concerns loom over Declan Rice’s fitness, as he requested to be substituted against Chelsea due to discomfort. Arteta noted, “Declan asked to be substituted, so he needs to be checked before Wednesday.”

FAQ

• What was the final score of the match?
  Arsenal won 2-1 against Chelsea.
• Who made a crucial save for Arsenal?
  David Raya made a vital last-minute save.
• What did Arteta say about Raya’s performance?
  Arteta praised Raya as one of the team’s leaders and commended his focus during the match.
• What is the concern regarding Declan Rice?
  Declan Rice’s fitness is in question after he requested to be substituted due to discomfort.

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