Raya has kept the most clean sheets of any goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues, with his 22 across all competitions four clear of Inter’s Yann Sommer.
The former Brentford goalkeeper has become a big presence at Arsenal and is part of the team’s leadership group.
He made a vital save to deny Maxi Araujo early on in Tuesday’s match, tipping a thumping strike on to the crossbar before making three saves late on to keep the tie level before Havertz’s winner.
“It’s something that I’m there for. I’m trying to help the team as much as possible in any single action, not just defending but commanding and on the ball,” Raya told Amazon Prime.
The clean sheet was Raya and Arsenal‘s seventh in the Champions League this season – the most of any goalkeeper and any side in the competition.
“That’s something we’ve worked on a lot. It’s so important for us, those clean sheets make it easier to win games. It showed tonight, scoring in the last minute and keeping that clean sheet decides those type of games,” Raya said.
The goalkeeper’s acrobatic saves are not the only impressive aspect of his game.
Raya is given a lot of responsibility with the ball at his feet and his passing range and decision-making make Arsenal a better attacking side.
“That’s the evolution of the game,” Arteta said. “The keeper in the last few years has changed and evolved rapidly, and the amount of things that we ask him to do, it’s a lot.
“But many positions have very similar situations and demands right now, and the players have to adapt to that.
“Apart from the qualities of David, the courage, the will to do certain things, that’s when you can reach another level.”
But the Gunners boss would not be drawn on if he thought that Raya was the best goalkeeper in the world.
“He’s extraordinary, magnificent, incredible,” Arteta said. “I don’t know the right adjective. We are so happy to have him.”
Raya has 15 clean sheets in 31 Premier League matches this season, the most in the division.
He shared the Golden Glove trophy with Nottingham Forest‘s Matz Sels in 2024-25 – but Arsenal will hope that if Raya lifts that personal accolade again, it will mean they have secured silverware as a team too.
