Mikel Arteta praised David Raya following his standout performance in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea. Arteta revealed his “heart almost stopped” before Raya made a vital save in stoppage time, securing the Gunners’ strong position in the Premier League title chase.
Jurriën Timber scored a headed goal in the second half from a corner taken by Declan Rice, following an own goal from Piero Hincapié, which leveled the match after William Saliba put Arsenal ahead in the first half. This goal seemed to secure a vital win for Arsenal, restoring their five-point lead over second-placed Manchester City.
Chelsea, who were down to 10 men after Pedro Neto received the club’s seventh Premier League red card of the season in the 70th minute, nearly equalized when Alejandro Garnacho took a shot towards goal late in the game.
However, the Spain international Raya made a remarkable full-stretch save to deny Garnacho, ensuring Arsenal walked away with all three points.
“David is undoubtedly one of our leaders,” Arteta said. “He’s a goalkeeper who knows how to stay focused and make game-changing decisions when it matters. Sometimes he can go long stretches without involvement, and then suddenly he has to perform, and the save he made in the final moment—my heart almost stopped—but he kept it out.
“It was a phenomenal save, but we shouldn’t have found ourselves in that position. I strive to remain composed, but we weren’t achieving the dominance we wanted against ten men.
“Everyone is feeling the pressure, and the margins are razor-thin, but that’s the nature of it. As we head into March, we remain competitive in every tournament and are positioned well.”
After a disappointing draw against relegation-threatened Wolves, where they squandered a 2-0 lead, Arsenal has rebounded with victories over local rivals Tottenham and Chelsea.
Arteta noted that his team’s response illustrates their capability to compete at the highest level. “Our reaction to that disappointing result has been excellent. I believe we showed great character and determination to win, but now we’ve stepped up our game even further.”
“The relentless pursuit of victory is paramount; even when you achieve consecutive wins, it may not suffice to create a gap.” Arteta added, “That showcases the beauty and intensity of this league.”
Arsenal will face Brighton away on Wednesday, with Arteta mentioning that midfielder Declan Rice will undergo a fitness test after requesting a substitution due to discomfort during the game against Chelsea. “Declan asked to come off, so he needs to be evaluated before Wednesday,” Arteta concluded.