Raya’s heroics earn Arsenal goalless draw against Atalanta in UCL opener

David Raya’s goalkeeping heroics ensured that Arsenal were only held to a goalless draw at Atalanta on Thursday in a tough start to their campaign in the revamped Champions League.

Mikel Arteta’s side left Bergamo with a point after a low-key performance in a red-hot atmosphere at the refurbished Gewiss Stadium.

The Premier League side would likely have been defeated had goalkeeper Raya not pulled off an astonishing double save to stop Mateo Retegui from netting first from the penalty spot and then on the rebound early in the second half.

“It’s just a penalty and I was lucky to go the right way and save it,” Raya told TNT Sports.

“I was unlucky to give the rebound straight back to him but I was quick enough to get up and save it.

“It’s fantastic to be able to keep the clean sheet and to help the team to get a point.”

Missing Martin Odegaard to a serious ankle injury suffered on international duty with Norway, Arsenal were largely solid but lacked imagination going forward and after having an early spell of dominance never looked like winning.

On Sunday, Arsenal head to league title rivals Manchester City, where they will need a brighter display than the one they put in on Thursday in northern Italy.

Europa League holders Atalanta had the better of a tight game which featured little goalmouth action and will be encouraged by their efforts in their first Champions League match since being dumped out at the group stage in 2021.

“We’re all with Mateo, he can’t think too much about that penalty miss,” said Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi to Sky in Italy.

“He’s a brilliant player and great guy, we’re very happy with a good point gained against a great team.”

– Raya the hero –

Arsenal were on top in the opening exchanges and only a fantastic double save from Carnesecchi stopped the away side from going ahead in the 13th minute.

The Italian kept out Bukayo Saka’s drilled free-kick with a fantastic fingertip save before quickly scurrying across to block Thomas Partey on the rebound.

Atalanta are used to dictate the rhythm of games, even at grounds like Anfield but initially, Arsenal pressed the hosts into making constant mistakes with the ball.

It took Atalanta nearly half an hour to get a proper sight of goal and Charles De Ketelaere smashed high and way wide when neatly set up by Retegui on the edge of the area.

But they grew into the game and two minutes after half-time had the perfect chance to take the lead when Ederson was clumsily brought down by Partey in the penalty area.

But Raya did brilliantly to guess the right way for Retegui’s penalty and then somehow managed to get across the goalline to claw the Italy forward’s rebound header off the line.

“Obviously we still had the whole second half to play but to go a goal ahead in that moment would have been huge,” said Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

“We can only be happy with our performance though, we put in a serious display against a really good team.”

They closest anyone came to scoring after Raya’s miraculous goalkeeping was when Atalanta substitute Juan Cuadrado fired two long-range rockets, first just over and then inches wide as both teams settled for a draw.

Atalanta’s fans, who made a ferocious racket all game, gave their team a warm round of applause and chanted Retegui’s name as their team showed that they were ready for the top-table European football.

AFP