Why Arsenal Owes a Debt of Gratitude to David Raya for the Point Earned at Old Trafford

On Sunday afternoon, Manchester United went head-to-head with Arsenal in a match often considered a classic of the Premier League, though it has notably lost some of its excitement in recent years.

While Mikel Arteta has brought the Gunners close to clinching their first English top-flight title since the Invincible season of 2003/04, the situation for the Red Devils has been marked by chaos and turmoil.

Ruben Amorim’s assertion that his team represents the worst in Manchester United’s history made headlines immediately after being voiced. This claim holds weight when one examines the current predicament of the club.

Currently languishing in 14th place in the Premier League after 28 matches, United has secured just nine victories, alongside seven draws and 12 losses, and has managed a mere 34 goals—outscoring only Everton, West Ham, Ipswich, Leicester, and Southampton—while conceding 40.

With 34 points to their name, they sit 10 points behind the eighth spot, which represents the club’s worst final position in the Premier League since the 1992/93 season, a record set last year under Erik ten Hag.

Despite their disappointing form, they were only thwarted by Arsenal keeper David Raya from finding a much-needed win on Sunday afternoon.

Raya’s positioning was questionable as he failed to adequately challenge Bruno Fernandes’ well-executed free-kick, which was placed perfectly into the back of the net, giving the Portuguese too much space at his right side.

This marked Fernandes’ second direct free-kick goal of the season, making him the first United player to net more than one direct free-kick in a season since Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata did so during the 2013/14 campaign. It was also United’s initial shot on target and provided the spark the match desperately needed at that crucial moment.

As the second half unfolded, Raya would evolve into a pivotal figure for the visitors in a more intense and thrilling 45 minutes, showcasing the stature of these two Premier League giants.

By the conclusion of the match, he had registered five saves, matching his best Premier League performance since facing Crystal Palace on 21 December 2024.

Arteta is likely to be frustrated that his side dropped points once again, yet the situation could’ve been much worse had Noussair Mazraoui’s volley, Joshua Zirkzee’s cheeky backheel, or Bruno’s late shot found the net.

None of those opportunities resulted in goals, thanks in no small part to Raya’s sharp reflexes and alertness, especially when he saved Bruno’s strike and swiftly got back up to keep the ball from spiralling toward the goal.

His 83.3% save percentage in the match is among his best displays this season, and it rises to a perfect 100% if we focus solely on shots taken within the box.

It’s essential to consider the impact of Raya’s saves in the broader context of the match.

These vital saves were likely of a higher calibre than the shots faced by Andre Onana, who, despite making five saves himself, had the most in a Premier League game since he stopped six shots against Everton on 22 February.

Arsenal displayed good ball movement in the midfield but yet again struggled to convert their chances into goals. Had any of United’s prime opportunities found the back of the net, it’s conceivable they could have seized the match from there.

Considering this, one could argue that a point gained was better than two lost, although Arteta must address why his squad has fallen behind in the title race of late.

Overall, 18 of Raya’s 26 passes connected successfully during the match at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’, and while his pass accuracy of 69.2%—just slightly lower than his 71.1% for the 2024/25 season—was the lowest from an Arsenal viewpoint, it stands in stark contrast to Onana’s 37.5%.

This statistic can be somewhat misleading, as it reflects Arteta’s preference for Raya to play short passes rather than sending long balls. The accompanying graphic indicates that all failed passes were indeed longer attempts, highlighting an area in need of refinement.

If we delve deeper into the stats, we see that 519 out of 550 passes made in his own half this season were successful, resulting in a commendable pass accuracy of 94.4%. This ranks him fourth among teammates for successful passes made in their half, demonstrating the team’s reputation for short and precise passing.

Raya also acted as a vocal leader for his defence, instructing them to push up the pitch when necessary and admonishing them when they retreated too far.

To the untrained eye, these actions might appear inconsequential, but being vocal is an often-overlooked aspect of a goalkeeper’s role and something that doesn’t come easily to many players.

Both teams must have felt they missed an opportunity in this encounter. Arsenal may reflect on how it could have shaken things up in the title race, while United are left to consider their disappointing home record against the north London side, having only secured five wins in their past 13 meetings at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson retired (D5 L3).

For emphasised contrast, during Ferguson’s tenure, he managed to win his last five home games against Arsenal from 2009 to 2012.

How both sets of supporters long for a return to the electrifying days of Keane and Vieira…