David Raya paid tribute to Arsenal goalkeeper coach Inaki Cana after seeking out advice moments before his heroics against Atalanta.
Arsenal secured a point away from home in their opening match of their Champions League campaign thanks to Raya.
After Thomas Partey gave away a penalty in the second-half, the Spaniard got down to his right to deny Mateo Retegui from 12 yards. Raya was immediately back up on his feet and sprung across goal to claw away Retegui’s follow-up header in an extraordinary double save.
Raya was mobbed by his teammates moments later and again at full-time but the former Brentford goalkeeper also highlighted the role goalkeeping coach Cana had played.
Before the spot kick was taken, Partey’s foul on Ederson was reviewed by VAR to judge if contact had been made inside or outside the box. In those valuable few moments, Raya went over to the touchline to receive some advice from Cana.
‘I took the decision to go to the sideline because it was a long wait to decide if it was a penalty or not,’ Raya told TNT Sport.
‘So I just went to speak with the goalie coach to have more sense of where to go and where not to go and what to do and what not to do.
‘He helped me a lot in every aspect. Credit to him, he does all the work for everything and it’s great to have the save with him.’
Raya continued: ‘I think everyone [has helped his form], of course the players and the staff and the fans, the belief that they have in me.
‘And Inaki, he’s just so confident in me. I just have to deliver for the club, fans and for everybody. I’m in a good way now, I’ve got things to improve as always but I’m in a good place right now.’
Arsenal have kept clean sheets in four of their five games this season, conceding just one with Raya playing a key role in that run.
The 29-year-old made a stunning save on the opening day of the season against Wolves, also denying Ollie Watkins in circumstances similar to tonight’s game at Villa Park at the end of August.
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