David Raya made a breathtaking save to deny Ollie Watkins from point-blank range and keep Arsenal on level terms against Aston Villa, earning comparisons to Gordon Banks.
The Spaniard looked down and out when Amadou Onana’s deflected shot looped over him as he dived back and bounced off the bar into Watkins’ path.
Raya was on the floor time stood still and Watkins hared down on the ball unmarked with most of the goal to aim for.
But the Villa star headed it just within reach and Raya produced a cat-like save to claw the ball away and keep the scores level.
Within 15 minutes Leandro Trossard came on and put Mikel Arteta’s side ahead, while Thomas Partey bagged another 10 minutes later, with fans lauding Raya’s contribution.
David Raya denied Ollie Watkins with an extraordinary save before Arsenal took the lead
‘World-class man,’ one wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
‘Save of the season,’ said one.
‘Up there with the Gordon Banks save,’ a user said, giving a nod back to the England goalkeeper’s renowned save to deny Pele at the 1970 World Cup.
‘David Raya already giving the Premier League promotional videos,’ another said.
‘I see why Arsenal bought him now,’ one wrote, referring to Raya usurping Aaron Ramsdale.
Others came down harder on Watkins. While the ball bounced at an awkward height for him, there was a feeling he could have directed the ball out of Raya’s reach in the far corner.
‘The save wasn’t that good. The player was poor,’ one wrote.
‘He has to score that,’ another said.
‘Poor from Watkins,’ came the verdict of another.
