Arsenal left sweating over 29-year-old star’s fitness following injury scare in Manchester City stalemate: Reports
Arsenal have been handed a huge injury scare following their 2-2 draw with Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday, September 22. Their goalkeeper David Raya was filmed leaving the Etihad Stadium limping with his right knee strapped.
The Spaniard shot-stopper has been in scintillating form this season and produced an incredible performance on Sunday despite conceding two goals against the Cityzens. After Arsenal were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of halftime against City, a lot of people expected them to lose the match. However, Raya rose to the occasion as he made nine saves, with eight coming in the second half, to help his side secure a point.
He couldn’t stop John Stones from scoring the equalizer for Manchester City at the death. However, his performance didn’t go under the radar as he won the Player of the Match award for his heroics.
However, after the match, David Raya was spotted limping through the mixed zone with his right knee bandaged. This would leave all Arsenal fans biting their nails, as they won’t like losing the 29-year-old to injury at this point.
The Spaniard is the joint-leading goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season alongside Alisson Becker and Andre Onana (3). At the moment, it is unknown whether or not Raya has picked up an injury. This would leave Mikel Arteta in a quandary as they prepare for their EFL Cup game against Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday, September 25.
The Gunners are already without Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney, Mikel Merino, and Takehiro Tomiyasu due to injuries.
Gary Stevens heaps praise on Arsenal goalkeeper after performance against Manchester City
Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Gary Stevens waxed lyrical about David Raya after his incredible performance against Manchester City. The former England defender was in awe of Raya’s heroics and claims there is no better goalkeeper than him.
In a match filled with so much drama, Raya stood tall to make sure his side left the Etihad with a point. Gary Stevens was stunned by his performance, and he told Stadium Astro after the game:
“He (David Raya) is certainly a keeper in form, in great form. He’s dominant when he comes to crosses and he’s a great shot-stopper. He joined the club on loan and there was that debate over who would start.
"Mikel Arteta stuck with Raya and he’s now a permanent signing. Arsenal have got this one right, 100%. Now I would say there’s not a better goalkeeper out there than him.”
Raya won the Premier League's Golden Glove last season, keeping 16 clean sheets.