Raya speaks out on the recent praise he received over incredible save in Villa game

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has downplayed the praise he has received for his crucial save in the Gunners’ 2-0 victory over Aston Villa earlier this season, emphasizing that the save was simply a result of consistent training and dedication to his craft.

“Well, the truth is that it’s a stop that is very repetitive in all the years I’ve been a footballer in training,” Raya said, when asked about the impressive save that denied Villa a potential equalizer. “When we train, we do many actions such as throwing yourself, getting up and going to another ball.”

While acknowledging the context of the save during a crucial moment in the match, Raya remained humble, emphasizing the importance of replicating those skills in actual game situations.

“But the context is different,” he explained. “The context is in a match, and you try to replicate it there. And the truth is that I’m super happy to have been able to do that stop since at the time of the match we were 0-0.”

The Spaniard highlighted the potential impact the goal could have had on the game, especially given the challenging away fixture against Villa.

“And if they had scored, it would have been very complicated, especially against Aston Villa away from home,” Raya added. “So, I’m super proud and super happy to be able to help the team in those actions.”

Raya’s modesty reflects his focus on the collective effort of the team, highlighting the importance of every player contributing to the overall success. While he acknowledges the significance of his save, he ultimately prioritizes the team’s victory above individual accolades.