‘Need to understand’: Arteta sends message to Arsenal fans over Raya
Mikel Arteta praised David Raya‘s bravery during Arsenal’s victory over Manchester City, and he encouraged any concerned fans to direct their frustration towards him.
Arsenal made a significant statement with a 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to Gabriel Martinelli’s late deflected goal, ending an eight-year Premier League win drought against City.
This victory places Arsenal second in the Premier League standings, tied on points and goal difference with the table-topping Spurs as they head into the international break.
Despite a somewhat shaky start, Arsenal managed to secure the win.
Nathan Ake missed a clear early opportunity for City, and Raya made a few errant passes that City threatened to capitalize on.
There was a moment when Julian Alvarez blocked Raya’s clearance, nearly resulting in a goal for the visitors.
Some home fans in the stadium were growing anxious and urging Raya to kick the ball long when he had possession, but Arteta commended his goalkeeper for sticking to the game plan.
“What I like is the courage,” Arteta told Sky Sports.
“It doesn’t happen, keep doing it and keep doing it. It’s the team that we are. We have to continue to do that. The crowd needs to understand that – if not, shout at me because it’s my fault!
“You’re going to have these moments against this team, you’re going to give balls away in this phase.”
In Arsenal’s victory over Manchester City, Mikel Arteta praised David Raya for his bravery and encouraged frustrated fans to direct their frustration toward him. Arsenal made a significant statement with a 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium, with Gabriel Martinelli’s late deflected goal ending an eight-year Premier League win drought against City. This victory has placed Arsenal second in the Premier League table, level on points and goal difference with the top-placed Spurs as they head into the international break.
Despite a somewhat nervous start, Arsenal secured the win. Nathan Ake missed a clear early opportunity for City, and Raya made a few loose passes that City threatened to exploit.
There was a moment when Julian Alvarez blocked Raya’s clearance, almost resulting in a goal for the visitors. Some home fans in the stadium increasingly urged Raya to kick the ball long when he had possession, reflecting their anxiety. However, Arteta expressed his pride in his goalkeeper for sticking to the game plan.
Arteta commended Raya’s courage, emphasizing the need to persevere and continue playing in a certain way, even when things don’t go perfectly. He mentioned that it’s part of the team’s style and asked the crowd to understand this approach or direct their frustration towards him, taking responsibility for it.
Raya has become Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper, with Aaron Ramsdale mainly on the bench in the Premier League and Champions League. Ramsdale’s chances to impress are likely to come in the Carabao Cup for the time being.
Despite City having only four shots in the match, with Gvardiol’s attempt early in the game being the only one to challenge Raya, Arteta was impressed with his performance, even though he didn’t have many saves to make.
“He was excellent,” Arteta continued.
“He can misplace one or two passes and I can demand him to stop the ball when he needs to, to get understanding, clarity and provoke the opponents.
“Overall, the way he controlled the area, how dominant he was, how high he played – he was excellent. I love players with big courage and David definitely has one big ones.”
‘Need to understand’: Arteta sends message to Arsenal fans over Raya