Mikel Arteta hailed David Raya as extraordinary following the goalkeeper’s performance in Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Sporting.
Arsenal earned a first-leg advantage in their Champions League quarter-final, courtesy of Kai Havertz’s stoppage-time goal in Lisbon.
The North Londoners were made to work for the win, and required an excellent performance from Raya in goal.
The Spaniard tipped an early effort from Maximiliano Araujo onto the woodwork, before impressive late stops from Geny Catamo and Luis Suarez earned a clean sheet.
Raya’s stops set the foundation for Havertz to snatch a late winner and Arteta was keen to recognise his number one.
“He’s extraordinary, magnificent, incredible. I don’t know the adjective, the right one. And with that, it’s enough. We are so happy to have him,” he said at his post-match press conference.
“That’s the evolution of the game, I think, in every role (to remain focused). The keeper, obviously, in the last few years has changed and evolved rapidly and the amount of things that we ask him to do, it’s a lot.
“But many positions have very similar situations and demands right now and the players have to adapt to that. When you have, apart from the qualities of David, the courage, the will to do certain things, that’s when you can reach another level.”
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