‘David Raya concerns emerge for Arsenal vs Crystal Palace ahead of PSG clash’
Arsenal face a huge game next week when they take on PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semi final, with new concerns about their goalkeeper.
Ahead of that game though, the Gunners may have been given some reason to worry about their first-choice goalkeeper David Raya.
On Wednesday (23 April), Mikel Arteta‘s side hosted Crystal Palace at the Emirates in their final game before that clash with the French champions.
Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw in that match, meaning Liverpool now need just one point from their last five games to secure the Premier League title.
Raya was one player who endured a particularly challenging night in that match, leading to some suggestions the Gunners will be worried about the Spaniard ahead of such an important game.
David Raya endures nervy evening against Crystal Palace
Raya has won plenty of plaudits for his performances for Arsenal this season, and is among the most successful goalkeepers when it comes to clean sheets in the Premier League.
However, the Spain international looked far from convincing right from the early moments of that clash with the Eagles at the Emirates.
The Gunners number one struggled to command his area when dealing with balls into the box, and shortly before the end of the first half was caught out of position on the edge of the area.
That led to an opportunity for former Arsenal man Eddie Nketiah that many felt he should have finished, and caused questions about Raya ahead of what is arguably his side’s biggest game of the season.
| David Raya vs Crystal Palace | Total (as per SofaScore) |
| Saves | 2 |
| Goals Prevented | -0.25 |
| High Claims | 1 |
| Possession Lost | 3 |
| Errors Leading to Shot | 1 |
Speaking after that chance live on Sky Sports, commentator Bill Leslie noted (8:46pm): “We’ve touched on it before Alan but I can’t remember a shakier half from David Raya here at the Emirates.”
That then prompted former Arsenal striker Alan Smith to respond by saying: “I know, he’ll be hoping he’s getting it out of the way early doors before next week.”
Raya though continued to struggle into the second half, as he failed to hold a Daniel Munoz header from a corner, with Ismaila Sarr then missing a huge chance to score for Crystal Palace.
In response to that, Smith continued his scrutiny of the Arsenal goalkeeper by adding (9:25pm): “Well he’ll want to forget about tonight pretty quickly, I think, David Raya.
“Really out of character [and] Palace will be thinking ‘there’s another goal in this for us’.”
There was, as Jean-Philippe Mateta floated a beauty in over Raya from range off the bar, after a huge late error from William Saliba.
Arsenal need their goalkeeper to bounce back quickly
Football Insider Verdict
With Liverpool on the verge of the Premier League title, the Champions League has taken on huge importance for Arteta’s side in recent weeks.
As a result, if Arsenal are to have any hope of claiming a trophy this season, they are simply going to have to win over those two legs against PSG.
To do that, they will need their goalkeeper on top form given the threats the French champions have in attack with the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue.
Attackers of that quality will likely take advantage of the sort of chances that Raya gifted to Crystal Palace in this match, which would give Luis Enriqure’s side a boost the Gunners can ill afford to hand over.
Arsenal will therefore be desperate for this performance from Raya to end up being a one off, although his confidence may have been knocked by this showing.
Indeed, he was also caught out of position by Mateta for the Eagles’ stunning late equaliser, after the error from Saliba.
That could put more pressure on the Spaniard, and his defence, which may in turn lead to more potentially costly errors next time out against PSG.