Thomas Partey fouled Atalanta’s Ederson in the box, and VAR looked into it. Raya quickly ran to the Arsenal bench to have a quick word with goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana.

 

 

Raya is so good at stopping penalties that he doesn’t need any help. Two shootout stops against Porto last season sent Arsenal to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

 

 

In August, he won the Premier League’s Save of the Month award for a crazy last-ditch effort on his goal line to stop Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, but this one might have been even more amazing.

 

He sank to his right to block Retegui’s first shot, then jumped back up like a tasered eel and scrambled to his left to block the next header that was going for the corner.

 

 

Arsenal got a point in their first Champions League game against a tough Italian team thanks to a save, but Mikel Arteta may be more worried than pleased by his team’s performance.

 

 

Even though this would have been a good victory at any other time, it will make them feel less confident before their trip to the Etihad in two days, which will decide who wins the title.

 

 

In their hard-fought win at Tottenham on Sunday, they didn’t have much-attacking flair. Instead, they played solid defense and won the game with more set-piece magic.

 

Arteta’s boys failed to find a moment of magic in open play to win a close game in Bergamo, showing that they still don’t have an eye for goal.

 

 

Another scoreless tie with City wouldn’t be a disaster, but Arsenal missed out on their first Premier League title in 20 years because of their 0-0 draw with City last season. They ended the season two points away from glory.

 

 

 

People think that Arteta’s team needs to change the story, take the lead, and stop Pep Guardiola’s winning machine whenever they can.

 

 

Arsenal could barely move the ball in the paddling pool right now, let alone the back of the net.

 

 

Arteta told the crowd through clenched teeth that his captain and star player Martin Odegaard would be out for a while with ankle ligament damage.

 

 

Even though Arteta’s team was getting hurt every day, he still had players to choose from because Declan Rice was back from ban and Riccardo Calafiori was back from a calf injury.

 

 

The only changes from the North London Derby were for Rice and Gabriel Jesus to play instead of Jorginho and Leandro Trossard. This didn’t give the big players any time to rest.

 

 

Arteta made a risky call that could lead to a title-deciding fight sooner than he would have liked. Going to the Etihad, the Spanish player wanted to be in a good mood and with confidence.

 

 

In the beginning, it looked like Arteta’s choice would pay off because Arsenal took charge with some smooth play and easily won the game.

 

 

Saka cut inside, but his shot was blocked, and went out for a corner. The German then found Jesus and set him up, but Havertz’s shot went wide after he drove into the box.

 

While the team won at Spurs, it was sometimes tense and unpleasant to watch from the stands. When the Gunners were stuck against the wall with their backs to it, they fought hard for a while.

 

 

This one had a different vibe. A sense from the guests that they could play with their opponents and surprise them with brilliant plays at any time.

 

 

But Arsenal didn’t seem to be trying to win; they just looked like they were going through the motions. Saka’s low curling free kick made Marco Carnesecchi make his first save.

 

 

Another player up for the Ballon d’Or, Ademola Lookman, was trying to get his team going by moving inside and chipping the ball into the box while Rice did a great job of covering at the back post.

 

 

When Charles De Ketelaere went into the Arsenal box for the first time, he was pushed over. Raya hadn’t muddied his shorts yet.

 

 

Arsenal went on the attack with “huff and puff.” There was a cute throw-in move from set-piece coach Nicolas Jover that Gabriel Martinelli scored with a rushed finish.

 

 

As soon as the half-time whistle blew, Arteta’s men were as blunt as airport knives. These days, Arsenal fans who are traveling don’t have to wait long for goals.

 

 

Three minutes into the second half, there was movement in front of the goal, but it was the wrong end. Partey was turned too easily, getting caught in Ederson’s legs and knocking the Brazilian out.

 

 

Referee Clement Turpin pointed to the spot right before VAR chose to take a long time to check. In his expert area, Arteta spent the time moving his finger around.

 

 

People now expect Raya to make a save, not just hope for one. However, it didn’t inspire his teammates much.

 

 

Raheem Sterling, Jorginho, Leandro Trossard, and Riccardo Calafiori, who came on as substitutes, did not help.