BBC Sport reporter Alex Brotherton reveals what David Raya did immediately after Bruno Guimarães scored an incredible long-range goal against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
As the rest of the team rushed to the corner flag to celebrate the midfielder’s second-half screamer, the Spanish goalkeeper realized where the real praise was due.
What David Raya did after Bruno Guimarães scored
Reporting directly from the press box at the Stadium of Light, BBC Sports reporter Alex Broderton shares There was mesmerizing touchline detail immediately after Arsenal’s first goal.
“As Bruno Guimarães and his team-mates celebrated the wonder goal, David Raya ran to the sidelines and was mobbed by Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff,” Brotherton revealed.
“Without his penalty save, this goal might never have happened.”
Raya’s immediate sprint to the dugout underlined the shared awareness within the squad: just 121 seconds before Guimarães’ shot, the Spanish goalkeeper kept Arsenal level with a world-class save.
Raya set the stage for a game-changing counterattack by diving low to the left and fingering Enzo Le Fée’s penalty against the post.
David Raya’s crucial penalty two minutes before Bruno G scored the winning goal?
Definition of clutch. pic.twitter.com/oJHP1zAAHe
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David Raya wins game for Arsenal with superb goalkeeping
Raya’s heroics went far beyond the penalty save, earning him a game-high 9/10 rating as Arsenal earned a tough 2-0 win away from home.
Late in the second half, with Sunderland pushing hard for an equalizer, Raya stepped up again after Granit Xhaka’s dangerous cross and blocked Noordi Mukiele’s shot from close range.
His dominance and game-defining saves, which culminated in Bukayo Saka sealing three points with his own late penalty, proved why Raya remains key to Arsenal’s title defense.