Raya’s double save rescues Arsenal in Champions League draw amid attacking concerns without Odegaard
Atalanta's Mateo Retegui, right, misses to score a penalty during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Spada]
BERGAMO, Italy (AP) — The first save was great and the second was even better. David Raya came to Arsenal’s rescue in the Champions League with a double save from a penalty that was celebrated by his teammates as wildly as a goal being scored. It preserved a 0-0 draw with Atalanta and provided a further demonstration of the shot-stopping qualities of a goalkeeper more renowned for his ability with the ball at his feet. The Spain international dived to his right to block the 51st-minute spot kick taken by Mateo Retegui. Raya quickly got to his feet, scrambled across his line and clawed away a header from Retegui off the goal line after the ball had rebounded out to the Italy striker.
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Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya applauds after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Antonio Calanni