September 23rd 2024.
David Raya has been absolutely exceptional for Arsenal lately. His performance in the match against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon was nothing short of spectacular. However, after the intense game ended in a dramatic draw, Raya was spotted limping and sporting some strapping on his leg.
Despite his efforts, the Gunners' goalkeeper was unable to keep the reigning champions at bay as John Stones scored an injury-time equaliser, resulting in a 2-2 tie. The game was full of action, with Erling Haaland scoring an early goal for City, but then Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel turning the tables with goals for Arsenal. The momentum shifted once again when Leandro Trossard was shown a red card just before half-time, leaving Mikel Arteta's men to defend their lead for the entire second half.
Their defensive efforts almost paid off, as City struggled to break through, but in the end, it was a scrappy goal that sealed the deal for the home team. It was a disappointing outcome for Arsenal, and the news only got worse after the game when Raya was seen limping and sporting a bandage just below his right knee. Although he played the full 90 minutes, the extent of his injury is still unknown, but from the footage, it was clear that he was in discomfort.
The timing of Raya's injury is concerning for Arsenal fans, with their upcoming Carabao Cup match against Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday and a crucial Premier League game against Leicester City on Saturday. However, it is possible that Raya may have been rested for the cup game regardless, as they have a capable backup in summer signing Neto from Bournemouth. But Arteta will certainly hope to have his first-choice goalkeeper back in action for the next league match.
Despite conceding two goals, Raya's performance on Sunday was outstanding. He made some impressive saves and was in complete control of his penalty area. As for his understudy, 35-year-old Brazilian Neto, he was on the bench for the game against City and is yet to make his debut for Arsenal, with Aaron Ramsdale now at Southampton.
It will be interesting to see how Raya's injury progresses and if he will be fit to play in the upcoming matches. But for now, Arsenal fans can take comfort in knowing that they have a reliable backup in Neto and can look forward to Raya's return in the near future.
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