"It raises eyebrows" - Pundit unhappy with Arsenal man's late error in their UCL fixture against Sevilla
Former West Ham United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has questioned David Raya's form after Arsenal's 2-1 UEFA Champions League group-stage win on Tuesday (24 October).
Arsenal took the lead in first-half stoppage time after a heated counterattack saw Gabriel Martinelli leave Sevilla players, including the goalkeeper, in his wake to score into an empty net. Gabriel Jesus, who provided the assist, scored himself eight minutes into the second half to double his team's lead.
Nemanja Gudelj scored from Ivan Rakitic's corner kick in the 58th minute to halve the deficit. The Gunners held onto the lead for the remainder of the game but there was a nervy moment in stoppage time where Sevilla could have equalized.
A cross from substitute Juanlu Sanchez was whipped into the net from Sevilla's right flank. Raya took the initiative to come out and punch it away, but the ball hit his glove and awkwardly looped just over the bar.
After the game, Hislop told ESPN (h/t TheBootRoom):
"You want him to get through 90 minutes and have a game whether you concede or not is not about a mistake, or giving the opposition a chance. Just get through the game.
"I say 90 minutes tongue in cheek because he waits until the 94th minute to produce that, and again it raises eyebrows. We’re not [being harsh]. If it’s an individual mistake you put it down as one of those and you got away with it, but we are having these conversations every single game in one capacity or another."
Raya, who arrived from Brentford on an initial loan deal this summer, has replaced Aaron Ramsdale in the team's box this season. He has had some uncertain moments in recent weeks, which has raised question marks over Mikel Arteta's decision to replace Ramsdale as Arsenal's No. 1.
Arsenal top of Group B after narrow win against Sevilla
Arsenal are top of Group B in the UEFA Champions League group stages after beating Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
The Gunners now have six points to their name, one more than RC Lens, who sit in second place. Lens are the only team to have beaten the Gunners across competitions this season, securing a 2-1 win at home earlier this month.
Los Nervionenses sit in third with two points, while PSV Eindhoven trail them on goal difference. Arsenal continue to be unbeaten in the Premier League, where they scored two late goals to draw 2-2 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 21 October.
They sit in third with 21 points to their name, trailing Manchester City on goal difference and sitting two points behind early pace-setters Tottenham Hotspur.