It was a kind of moments on the soccer area when, inexplicably, time stands nonetheless.
This Premier League title race – and it has very a lot been a battle between two contenders, extra so than it appeared it was going to be – was certain to be outlined by a key, massive second. However fairly than Arsenal‘s equal of a last-minute Aguero(oooooo) aim, and even an sudden Vincent Kompany piledriver, this season’s defining massive second could nicely have been a save.
With 77 minutes on the clock on the London Stadium and the scores degree between relegation-threatened West Ham and title-chasing Arsenal, the hosts managed to interrupt via into the opposition field at tempo.
A one-two between Mateus Fernandes and Pablo set the previous up for a one-on-one probability – and prompted a kind of squealing sounds that solely Gary Neville could make on commentary. You realize the kind.
In a sport so decisive at each ends of the desk, was the script about to be torn up?
Not if David Raya had something to say about it.
Standing his floor, Arsenal’s goalkeeper waited for Fernandes’ shot from contained in the six-yard field, unfold his legs and saved the ball out.
It was the prospect with the very best xG from the entire sport, with the calculations implying Fernandes was extra more likely to rating than miss from that vary. You most likely didn’t want the info boffins to inform you that. However Raya had different concepts.
What a save from David Raya! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/8G0WRqzivb
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) Might 10, 2026
It was a clutch second from a participant who will probably be a worthy recipient of the Premier League’s Golden Glove award for the third season in a row.
Barely 5 minutes later, Leandro Trossard scored on the different finish to place Arsenal in entrance. His probability, for what it’s value, had an xG decrease than half of Fernandes’. If anybody gained this sport for Arsenal, it felt extra prefer it was Raya.
The Gunners held onto their lead, with their goalkeeper concerned once more as they breathed an enormous sigh of reduction when VAR dominated out a would-be equaliser by West Ham. Whereas making an attempt to say the ball, Raya was obstructed by Pablo, and thus the aim was overturned.
That was that. Arsenal’s 1-0 win places them one step nearer to the title. Time is operating out for them to drop factors, and had Raya not resisted West Ham’s sudden strain when he did, this sport might nicely have been one during which they did.
Raya will make extra aesthetically pleasing saves. This was pure intuition, versus calculated talent. However he would possibly by no means make one as essential.
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