Following Arsenal’s remarkable victory over Porto in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg, manager Mikel Arteta had high praise for goalkeeper David Raya.
Arsenal entered the match at the Emirates with a 1-0 deficit from the first leg.
The opening goal came in the first half when Leandro Trossard capitalized on a brilliant pass from Martin Odegaard to score past Diogo Costa.
After the game was level at 1-1, it proceeded to extra time, with the Premier League club from North London eventually prevailing 4-2 in a penalty shootout.
Raya’s heroic performance included two crucial saves during the shootout, contributing significantly to his side’s advancement to the quarter-finals.
In his post-match comments, Arteta commended Raya for his resilience and character, stating:
“…kudos to the coaches for their role in this success, and especially to David [Raya].
He faced challenges early on, but he showed tremendous resolve and ambition, ultimately earning the recognition he deserved.”