Declan Rice has hailed goalkeeper David Raya for ‘going to the next level’ after his stunning double save in Arsenal’s goalless draw with Atalanta.
The Gunners settled for a point in their opening match of their Champions League campaign thanks to their heroics of their no1.
Raya guessed right to save Mateo Retegui’s penalty, leaping back to his feet to bat away the striker’s follow-up header with a wonderful full stretch save across the goal line.
Arsenal had their chances to get the win with Gabriel Martinelli passing up their best of their chances.
But Rice pointed to Raya’s heroics and another resolute performance from William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in helping the Gunners secure yet another clean sheet.
Raya has made a string of extraordinary saves this season, denying Ollie Watkins in similar fashion at Villa Park having made a hugely important stop against Wolves on the opening day of the season.
Arsenal have conceded just one goal in their opening five matches of the season with their centre-half partnership also playing a huge role.
‘The two centre-backs, I can’t speak highly enough of them and the goalkeeper. He has gone to a next level, unbelievable,’ Rice told TNT Sports.
‘They love defending. When you have got that three, the little triangle, who want it as much as they do, it is really good.’
Rice also praised Raya’s mentality having come into the club last season and displaced Aaron Ramsdale as no1, with the England shot stopper leaving the Emirates to join Southampton this summer.
‘He’s so level headed he hasn’t changed one bit,’ Rice continued. ‘Rammers [Ramsdale] going out and him coming in, he didn’t change his mannerisms or the way he was. It was massive pressure.
‘He was our no1 last season and he’s fully no1 now there’s no questions about that anymore. He is really focused. Three games this season he has made crucial saves. He is doing everything right and living the away from football the right way and showing that on the pitch.’
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