New angle shows Raya NOT to blame for Arsenal’s Porto defeat

Robin Bairner

• 22 Feb 2024 13:07 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has taken his share of blame this season, but a new angle shows that the Spaniard cannot have Wednesday’s Champions League loss to Porto pinned on him.

The Gunners slumped to a surprise 1-0 defeat in Portugal on Wednesday after producing a lamentable performance in which they failed to register even one single shot on target.

This lacklustre offensive display was punished in the closing stages of the match as home winger Galeno scored a long-range shot in injury time.

It was a moment that was once again greeted with finger-pointing at Raya, whose arrival in the summer caused a stir once it was clear that manager Mikel Arteta had brought him into the club to replace Aaron Ramsdale.

Raya has not helped himself with some unnecessary blunders that have cost goals, while there is little doubt that Ramsdale’s shot-stopping is superior to the Spaniard, who has been brought in primarily because he is more secure in possession.

Arteta has stuck by the Brentford keeper, who is technically on loan but will be signed in the summer, and Raya should be exonerated from any blame for the Porto game after a new angle on Galeno’s goal was published on social media.

TNT Sport captured an angle of the shot from behind the left winger, which saw the ball arc well outside the post before coming back in sharply, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Indeed, this angle served to highlight the static defending from the Arsenal rearguard, which stood and watched on after giving the 26-year-old Brazilian time to shoot past Raya.

Arsenal are left with an uphill task ahead of the second leg, which will be played at the Emirates Stadium on 12 March, but this is not on their goalkeeper.