Bukayo Saka says £30m Arsenal player has been ‘amazing’ recently

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Arsenal star Bukayo Saka was full of praise for David Raya after the Spaniard’s heroics against Porto last night.

The Gunners were forced to go to a penalty shootout in the Champions League after an intense 120 minutes of football at the Emirates. The pressure was on Arsenal, but Raya saved the day with two fantastic saves.

Bukayo Saka praises Arsenal teammate David Raya

Arsenal signed David Raya on loan from Brentford last summer.

Many people didn’t understand why the Gunners needed someone like the Spaniard when they already had Aaron Ramsdale as their number one.

The same people became even more confused when Mikel Arteta dropped the England goalkeeper and replaced him with Raya back in September.

The £30 million (Guardian) Spain international had a shaky start, but he has been brilliant for Arsenal recently and has proven everyone wrong. His performance against Porto last night was arguably his best in a Gunners shirt.

Raya was fantastic all game and then saved the day in the penalty shootout. He made two brilliant saves, and Bukayo Saka was impressed.

Speaking about Raya on TNT Sports, Saka said: “Yeah, he was brilliant. Credit to him. He basically won us the game with those two stops.

“Yeah, he has been amazing for us this season and that’s a great moment for him.”

Raya repays Mikel Arteta’s faith in him

Almost everybody who watches Arsenal claimed Mikel Arteta made a mistake dropping Aaron Ramsdale for David Raya in goal.

The Gunners boss, however, stuck to his guns, ignored all the external pressure and put his full faith in Raya. It may not have seemed like the right move a few months ago, but Arteta’s decision has been justified now.

Raya has been one of the best goalkeepers in Europe since the turn of the year. He has played a big part in Arsenal‘s success over the last few weeks, and he stepped up again last night.

Arteta’s faith in Raya has been repaid, and if the goalkeeper can continue to perform in the same way until the end of the season, Arsenal have every chance of lifting a trophy or two.