{"id":4194,"date":"2026-04-09T22:32:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T22:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=4194"},"modified":"2026-04-09T22:32:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T22:32:20","slug":"this-david-raya-performance-might-silence-every-remaining-doubt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=4194","title":{"rendered":"This David Raya performance might silence every remaining doubt"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div q:key=\"QW_7\"><!--qv q:key=QW_5--><!--qv q:id=5j q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder and, after two matches without David Raya, Arsenal fans truly appreciated their number one goalkeeper in Lisbon on Tuesday night. The Gunners traveled to Portugal following back-to-back defeats, beaten by Manchester City in the EFL Cup Final before being ousted from the FA Cup at Southampton. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5k q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-(18px) md:mt-0 mb-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5l\">As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder and, after two matches without David Raya, Arsenal fans truly appreciated their number one goalkeeper in Lisbon on Tuesday night. The Gunners traveled to Portugal following back-to-back defeats, beaten by Manchester City in the EFL Cup Final before being ousted from the FA Cup at Southampton. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_5--><!--qv q:id=5m q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>In both matches though, cup keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was the Spaniard donning the gloves, very much at fault for the first goal of the afternoon at Wembley. Well, with Raya restored at Est&aacute;dio Jos&eacute; Alvalade for this week&#39;s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting CP, he underlined his importance by putting in a man of the match performance. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5n q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5o\">In both matches though, cup keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was the Spaniard donning the gloves, very much at fault for the first goal of the afternoon at Wembley. Well, with Raya restored at Est\u00e1dio Jos\u00e9 Alvalade for this week&#8217;s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting CP, he underlined his importance by putting in a man of the match performance. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_5--><!--qv q:id=5p q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>On the night, he made five saves, preventing an astronomical xG figure of 1.57. The most impressive of his saves came in the first few minutes when Maxi Ara&uacute;jo burst in behind, getting the slightest finger tip on his thunderous effort which diverted in onto the crossbar. Later on, Raya twice denied Geny Catamo, without which Kai Havertz would not have been able to snatch victory at the death. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5q q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5r\">On the night, he made five saves, preventing an astronomical xG figure of 1.57. The most impressive of his saves came in the first few minutes when Maxi Ara\u00fajo burst in behind, getting the slightest finger tip on his thunderous effort which diverted in onto the crossbar. Later on, Raya twice denied Geny Catamo, without which Kai Havertz would not have been able to snatch victory at the death. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_5--><!--qv q:id=5s q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>This though was far from a one off, with Raya consistently proving himself to be one of the world&#39;s best goalkeepers for two or three seasons now. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5t q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5u\">This though was far from a one off, with Raya consistently proving himself to be one of the world&#8217;s best goalkeepers for two or three seasons now. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_5--><!--qv q:id=5v q:key=vcaa:\n\n<h2>Champions League goalkeeper statistics 2025\/26<\/h2>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5w q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"scroll-mt-24 my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5x\">Champions League goalkeeper statistics 2025\/26<\/h2>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_5--><!--qv q:id=5y q:key=vcaa:5--><!--qv q:id=5z q:key=ndZW:mL_1--><\/p>\n<div class=\"overflow-auto max-w-(90vw)\" q:key=\"xt_0\">\n<table class=\"border-collapse text-left w-full\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"bg-lightGrey py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"0\">\n<p><strong>Statistics<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th class=\"bg-lightGrey py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"1\">\n<p><strong>David Raya<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th class=\"bg-lightGrey py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"2\">\n<p><strong>UCL rank<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"border-b-(1px) border-b-lightGrey\" q:key=\"0\">\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"0\">\n<p>Clean sheets<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"1\">\n<p>7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"2\">\n<p>1st<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"border-b-(1px) border-b-lightGrey\" q:key=\"1\">\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"0\">\n<p>Saves<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"1\">\n<p>27<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"2\">\n<p>20th<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"border-b-(1px) border-b-lightGrey\" q:key=\"2\">\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"0\">\n<p>Save %<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"1\">\n<p>90%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"2\">\n<p>1st<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"border-b-(1px) border-b-lightGrey\" q:key=\"3\">\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"0\">\n<p>Expected goals prevented<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"1\">\n<p>3.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"2\">\n<p>3rd<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"border-b-(1px) border-b-lightGrey\" q:key=\"4\">\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"0\">\n<p>Goals Prevented Rate<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"1\">\n<p>2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"2\">\n<p>1st<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"border-b-(1px) border-b-lightGrey\" q:key=\"5\">\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"0\">\n<p>Goals against per 90<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"1\">\n<p>0.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"2\">\n<p>1st<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"border-b-(1px) border-b-lightGrey\" q:key=\"6\">\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"0\">\n<p>High claims<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"1\">\n<p>10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"2\">\n<p>4th<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"border-b-(1px) border-b-lightGrey\" q:key=\"7\">\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"0\">\n<p>Errors leading to a shot<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"1\">\n<p>Zero<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"2\">\n<p>1st<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"border-b-(1px) border-b-lightGrey\" q:key=\"8\">\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"0\">\n<p>Errors leading to a goal<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"1\">\n<p>Zero<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"py-3 px-10 my-0 mx-auto\" q:key=\"2\">\n<p>1st<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_5--><!--qv q:id=60 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>The Arsenal number one ranks first in this season&#39;s Champions League for a wide-variety of metrics. He has conceded just three goals in ten appearances thus far, these scored by Lennart Karl of Bayern Munich, Petar Su&#269;i&#263; of Internazionale and Bayer Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=61 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"62\">The Arsenal number one ranks first in this season&#8217;s Champions League for a wide-variety of metrics. He has conceded just three goals in ten appearances thus far, these scored by Lennart Karl of Bayern Munich, Petar Su\u010di\u0107 of Internazionale and Bayer Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_5--><!--qv q:id=63 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>His save percentage of 90% is by some distance the best, while only Temirlan Anarbekov of Kairat and Galatasaray&#39;s U&#287;urcan &Ccedil;ak&#305;r have prevented a higher number of expected goals. This is pretty impressive considering Raya has faced only 30 shots on target; 29 goalkeepers have seen more. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=64 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"65\">His save percentage of 90% is by some distance the best, while only Temirlan Anarbekov of Kairat and Galatasaray&#8217;s U\u011furcan \u00c7ak\u0131r have prevented a higher number of expected goals. This is pretty impressive considering Raya has faced only 30 shots on target; 29 goalkeepers have seen more. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_5--><!--qv q:id=66 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Without wanting to be too simplistic about it, Mikel Arteta&#39;s team are out of contention to win the two competitions Arrizabalaga plays in, while are fighting for the trophies in which Raya starts. Assuming Arsenal finish the job next Wednesday, it appears as though it&#39;ll be Atl&eacute;tico Madrid who await them in the semi-finals. Diego Simeone&#39;s side upset the odds to win 2-0 at Camp Nou on Wednesday, with a stunning free-kick from Juli&aacute;n &Aacute;lvarez and a late goal by Alexander S&oslash;rloth downing Barcelona. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=67 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"68\">Without wanting to be too simplistic about it, Mikel Arteta&#8217;s team are out of contention to win the two competitions Arrizabalaga plays in, while are fighting for the trophies in which Raya starts. Assuming Arsenal finish the job next Wednesday, it appears as though it&#8217;ll be Atl\u00e9tico Madrid who await them in the semi-finals. Diego Simeone&#8217;s side upset the odds to win 2-0 at Camp Nou on Wednesday, with a stunning free-kick from Juli\u00e1n \u00c1lvarez and a late goal by Alexander S\u00f8rloth downing Barcelona. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_5--><!--qv q:id=69 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>The Gunners did demolish los Colchoneros 4-0 during the league phase, but many supporters will still be scarred by their 2-1 aggregate defeat to Atleti in the Europa League during Ars&egrave;ne Wenger&#39;s final season in charge. Eight years on, Tuesday night&#39;s 1-0 win in Lisbon took Arteta&#39;s team one step closer to Budapest, with Raya very much key to their hopes of both Premier League and Champions League glory.  <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6a q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6b\">The Gunners did demolish los Colchoneros 4-0 during the league phase, but many supporters will still be scarred by their 2-1 aggregate defeat to Atleti in the Europa League during Ars\u00e8ne Wenger&#8217;s final season in charge. Eight years on, Tuesday night&#8217;s 1-0 win in Lisbon took Arteta&#8217;s team one step closer to Budapest, with Raya very much key to their hopes of both Premier League and Champions League glory.  <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder and, after two matches without David Raya, Arsenal fans truly appreciated their number one goalkeeper in Lisbon on Tuesday night. The Gunners traveled to Portugal following back-to-back defeats, beaten by Manchester City in the EFL Cup Final before being ousted from the FA Cup at Southampton. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4195,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4194"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4194\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}