One moment during Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Olympiacos seriously impressed Owen Hargreaves.
Theo Walcott thinks Arsenal can win the Champions League thanks to the changes Mikel Arteta made to his squad during the summer.
Against Olympiacos, the Gunners certainly started like a team hungry for European glory, opening the scoring after just 12 minutes.
It was an incredibly dominant first-half showing from Arsenal, but that didn’t stop Olympiacos from threatening David Raya.
Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty ImagesOwen Hargreaves was amazed by David Raya’s save against Olympiacos
In the 20th minute of play, Olympiacos saw a brief opening on goal to test Raya between the sticks.
Daniel Podence got on the end of a cross in the middle of the box to direct the ball goalwards on the volley, a chance that Raya instinctively tipped over the bar.
Podence has punished Arsenal before, but this time, the goalkeeper said no, making a sublime save that left Owen Hargreaves in awe.
“Silly save from David Raya, he shouldn’t be saving that,” Hargreaves said at half-time on TNT Sports’ coverage of the game [01/10/25 21:03].
“It is just a magnificent reaction, a great ball in, it’s a really good take first time, but the save from Raya.”
Hargreaves sang Raya’s praises, but didn’t stop by merely applauding the save, going on to say that the quality of Arsenal’s goalkeeper could be decisive in winning titles.
“That’s top, that’s how you win big trophies with a goalkeeper like David Raya.”
The two-time Champions League winner isn’t the only one who has made such a bold statement about Raya.
Jamie Carragher thinks Raya could win Arsenal the Premier League alongside centre-backs Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.
No complacency from Raya despite Arsenal’s control
Arsenal’s first-half performance against Olympiacos was as dominant as it gets in the Champions League.
Some of the football Arteta’s side were playing was mesmerising, but Raya didn’t allow himself to be left spellbound by his teammates ahead of him.
The Spaniard was stunned into action and reacted without thought to keep the ball out, after what was an impressive effort from Podence.
Raya is undoubtedly one of Arteta’s best signings at Arsenal, proving once again that the tough 2023 transfer decision was correct.