September 19th 2024.
Raya was in the midst of a deep conversation with his teammate, Inaki Cana, when he suddenly remembered something important. He wanted to pay tribute to Arsenal's goalkeeper coach, Inaki Cana, for his crucial advice just moments before Raya's heroic performance against Atalanta. It was all thanks to him that Arsenal managed to secure a point away from home in their first match of the Champions League campaign.
Things were getting tense when Thomas Partey gave away a penalty in the second half. But Raya proved his worth by diving to his right and denying Mateo Retegui's shot from 12 yards. And that wasn't all, Raya quickly got back up and miraculously stopped Retegui's follow-up header, making it an extraordinary double save. His teammates were quick to mob him, both in the moment and at full-time. But Raya wanted to make sure that Inaki Cana also got the recognition he deserved for his contribution.
Before the penalty was taken, there was a brief pause as VAR reviewed whether Partey's foul on Ederson had occurred inside or outside the box. In those valuable few moments, Raya took the opportunity to seek out some advice from Cana on the sidelines. "I wanted to make the most of that time because it was a long wait to decide if it was a penalty or not," Raya explained to TNT Sport. "So I went to have a chat with the goalie coach, just to get a better sense of where to position myself and what to do in the upcoming moments."
Raya was grateful for Cana's guidance and praised him for his role in his success. "He has helped me immensely in every aspect. He deserves credit for the hard work he puts in, and it's a great feeling to have shared this save with him," Raya shared. "I feel like everyone has contributed to my form, from the players and staff to the fans who have shown their unwavering belief in me."
The 29-year-old goalkeeper also acknowledged that he still has room for improvement, but he's currently in a good place thanks to the support and guidance of everyone involved. In fact, Arsenal has managed to keep four clean sheets in their first five games of the season, with Raya playing a key role in that impressive record. His stunning save on the opening day against Wolves and his denial of Ollie Watkins in a similar situation during their match against Aston Villa at the end of August are just a few examples of his exceptional skills.
Raya's performance has been making headlines, and it's clear that he's an integral part of Arsenal's team. With his hard work, determination, and the support of his coach and teammates, he's ready to continue delivering for the club and its fans. And as he said, he's in a good way now, but he's always striving to improve and be the best he can be.
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