Arsenal number one David Raya pulled off a mind-boggling double save as Mikel Arteta's men ground out a 0-0 draw against Atalanta BC in their opening Champions League league phase contest.
La Dea may have mercilessly torn apart Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen in last year's Europa League, but the hosts were stunted against a defensively resolute Arsenal side, who were quintessentially rigid and structured at the back.
The Gunners also offered sweet little in attack during a totally forgettable first half, where the absence of Martin Odegaard was well and truly felt, as Atalanta's backline matched up well to the visitors' offence.
Gasperini's goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi was only forced into one meaningful action in the first half, getting down low to his right to keep out a well-hit Bukayo Saka free kick, but Arsenal were often their own worst enemies in the final third too.
After both sides cancelled each other out to the maximum in the first half, it took just three minutes of the second for the first serious talking point of the match, as Thomas Partey clipped Ederson inside the box and conceded a stonewall penalty.
However, Mateo Retegui was denied not once, but twice by the impenetrable David Raya, who astonishingly kept out his initial spot kick and his follow-up off the line, rivalling his magnificent reaction save against Aston Villa last month.
The dumbfounded hosts continued to pile the pressure on as the clock wound down - ex-Chelsea man Juan Cuadrado went close on a couple of occasions - but Arsenal's dogged defence stood firm yet again to preserve a well-earned point.
Even though the visitors were as reliable as ever at the back, their attacking play left a lot to be desired all evening long, not helped by sloppiness and poor ball retention all over the shop.
ATALANTA BC VS. ARSENAL HIGHLIGHTS
David Raya double save vs. Atalanta (51st min, Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal)
DAVID RAYA, TAKE A BOW!
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 19, 2024
One of the best double saves you'll ever see 🤯
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/sPgZF293QI
It is Aston Villa all over again, but this double save from Raya is arguably more unbelievable than his one in the West Midlands. Partey is penalised for tugging and then clipping Ederson inside the box, and referee Clement Turpin immediately points to the spot.
Both sides have to wait a couple of minutes for the VAR to confirm the call, after which Retegui's spot kick is saved by Raya down to his right, but the Atalanta striker seemingly has an open goal to head the rebound into.
However, Raya outrageously manages to spring back up and somehow claw the ball off his line to safety. Robbie Savage on TNT Sports labels it one of the best saves he has ever seen, and few could disagree with him, although Retegui did help him out slightly by heading the ball right into the middle of the goal rather than aiming for the corner.
MAN OF THE MATCH - DAVID RAYA
© Imago
In a match bereft of real moments of quality, David Raya provided one of the only ones, and a stupendous one at that.
The Arsenal number one was certainly helped by Retegui failing to direct the ball into the corner, but the reactions and athleticism displayed to claw the ball away right on the line was nothing short of extraordinary.
William Saliba and ex-Arsenal man Sead Kolasinac earned their keep with strong defensive displays too, but Raya's one moment of mastery was man-of-the-match worthy on its own.
ATALANTA VS. ARSENAL MATCH STATS
Possession: Atalanta 54%-46% Arsenal
Shots: Atalanta 8-6 Arsenal
Shots on target: Atalanta 2-2 Arsenal
Corners: Atalanta 4-2 Arsenal
Fouls: Atalanta 7-11 Arsenal
BEST STATS
4/8 - Including shootouts, David Raya has saved four of his last eight penalties faced for Arsenal in all competitions. Wall. pic.twitter.com/oWkY5FnUNc
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 19, 2024
David Raya's save from Mateo Retegui's spot-kick made him the first Arsenal goalkeeper to save a Champions League penalty (excl. shootouts) in over a decade.
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) September 19, 2024
Three most recent:
Fabianski vs Bayern Munich 11/03/2014
Fabianski vs Partizan 28/09/2010
Lehmann vs Villarreal...
4 - Since their debut in the competition (2019/20), #Atalanta have remained unbeaten at least once in #UCL against 4 different English sides (Man City, Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal): only Bayern M. (5 different English clubs) have done better in the period. Ok#AtalantaArsenal
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) September 19, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
Next for Arsenal is the toughest possible test they could face domestically, as the Gunners head to the Etihad to face reigning Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday afternoon. Their next European game then comes at home to Paris Saint-Germain on October 1.
Meanwhile, Atalanta face newly-promoted Como in Monday's Serie A showdown, and their first Champions League away game of the season comes against Shakhtar Donetsk on October 2.
Ben Knapton
