Kai Havertz hailed David Raya as the best goalkeeper in the world after the Spain international’s key saves helped Arsenal to a 1-0 first-leg Champions League quarter-final win over Sporting in Lisbon.
Havertz scored the late winner, controlling a pass from substitute Gabriel Martinelli and finishing calmly in the 91st minute, but he was quick to single out Raya’s influence on the result. Raya produced a series of crucial stops, including tipping a powerful Maxi Araujo strike onto the bar early on and making a superb near-post save from Geny Catamo.
Those interventions continued a season of game-changing moments for Raya, whose performances have attracted attention after Mikel Arteta came in for criticism for selecting Kepa Arrizabalaga ahead of him in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
“Unbelievable,” Havertz told Amazon Prime. “I think he is still underestimated in the world of football, but for me, the last two seasons, the best ‘keeper in the world. He’s outstanding. He has saved us so many times and we’re very glad to have him.”
Arteta also praised Raya’s contribution after the match. “He had two moments where he made two big saves,” the manager said. “And that’s the Champions League, the Champions League is always decided in the boxes because there’s so much quality. At the moment he’s phenomenal and he has been extraordinary since he joined us. We are very lucky to have him.”
Raya himself felt the early Araujo save was a turning point. “I think that’s a turning moment,” he told Amazon Prime. “It was a quick transition from them and a great strike but I managed to get a fingertip to it to hit the bar. It’s one of those moments that can change games. It’s something that I’m there for. I’m trying to help the team as much as possible in any single action, not just defending but commanding and on the ball, so, delighted with my performance and, of course, the win.”
The goalkeeper also showcased his composure with the ball, completing 26 of 28 attempted passes, and his reading of the game when he headed away a long pass near the halfway line to snuff out a Sporting counter. “You have to be focused no matter what you’re doing, whether you’re touching the ball or not,” Raya said. “That’s something I’ve worked on over the years… I try to be ready as much as possible during the game with some tricks to keep my mind focused on the ball.”
Arteta reflected on how the modern goalkeeper’s role has evolved. “The ‘keeper in the last few years has changed and evolved rapidly, and the amount of things that he has to do, it’s a lot,” he said. “But many positions have very similar situations and demands right now, and the players have to adapt to that. And when you have, apart from the qualities of David, the courage, the will to do certain things, that’s when you can reach another level.”
Statistics underline Raya’s impact. Since the start of last season he has kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in the Champions League — 13 from 23 games — putting him ahead of Inter’s Yann Sommer. Over the same period Raya has conceded 12 goals from shots on target worth 21.07 expected goals on target (xGOT), effectively preventing just over nine expected goals, a higher total than any other keeper in the competition across the last two seasons; Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois is next on 6.12.
Raya’s Premier League numbers are similarly strong. He has kept the most clean sheets in the division this season, with 15, and has made just one error leading to a goal across his last 69 league appearances over the past two campaigns.
Arsenal will hope Raya’s form continues for the second leg and the remainder of their Champions League campaign as they chase a first European title in the club’s history.
