Arsenal’s glorious 3-0 victory over Real Madrid was one of those famous nights in the UEFA Champions League for English football that even rival fans have to sit back and admire. Declan Rice stole the show with two stunning free-kicks before Mikel Merino put the icing on the cake with the third on the night.
Mikel Arteta’s response to the Gunners’ quarter-final first-leg win over the record holders was telling. He highlighted ‘how much work and how many decisions a lot of people have made in this football club to live the night we had tonight’.
The 43-year-old enjoyed his best day as Arsenal boss during a six-year reign filled with highs and lows. He’s never been swayed from his mission to bring trophy success back to the North Londoners, and last night’s success justified one of his most controversial calls.
Mikel Arteta Was Right To Replace Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya
He was called ‘disrespectful’ for the decision
Premier League legend Andy Cole slammed Arteta’s handling of Aaron Ramsdale after the Englishman lost the number one jersey to David Raya last year (via TEAMTalk):
“The way he’s disregarded Ramsdale has been really disrespectful. He’s mugged him off basically.”
This was a goalkeeper named in the 2022-23 Premier League PFA Team of the Year after keeping 14 clean sheets in 38 league games. Arteta showed restraint in responding to such criticism, but he didn’t need to, as Raya has continuously done his talking for him on the pitch.
The 29-year-old put in another solid performance to help the Gunners win in Europe, keeping a clean sheet and Madrid’s star-studded attack at bay with four decent saves.
|
David Raya vs Real Madrid |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes Played: |
90′ |
|
Saves: |
4 |
|
Goals Prevented: |
0.24 |
|
Punches: |
1 |
|
High Claims: |
2 |
|
Saves From Inside Box: |
2 |
|
Accurate Passes: |
24/28 (86%) |
|
Long Balls: |
6 (2) |
There’s no longer any argument that the decision to replace Ramsdale was the right one, and this week has been Arteta’s vindication. Just two days before, Ramsdale suffered his third Premier League relegation after Southampton’s 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
Ramsdale had seemed likely to be Arteta’s number one long-term, especially after the 2022-23 campaign. Raya arrived at the Emirates on loan from Brentford in the summer of 2023 with a view to a permanent £27 million deal.
Many initially envisioned he’d either be a backup to Ramsdale or share the number one jersey. A unique rotational plan was how many foresaw Arteta using the duo, but several alarming outings from the Englishman paid their price and after months on the bench he left for Southampton in a £25 million move last summer.
“It is very difficult with every player. And I suffer and I care about every player who is not playing, but this is the competition and this is my job to make decisions in the best possible way for the team” – Arteta on dropping Ramsdale (via Daily Mail)
If you go back to the 2022-23 season, there were already signs that the 26-year-old couldn’t be relied upon. A disastrous blunder against Southampton led to a 3-3 draw, which greatly influenced the title race with City. His confidence took a hit as he struggled in a 4-1 defeat to Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens.
Raya took over, and while he’s not been without nervy moments, he has proven to be an excellent upgrade for the North London giants. He was the Gunners’ hero in a 4-2 penalty shootout win over FC Porto in last season’s Champions League Round of 16, one of many performances that have justified Arteta’s call.
Arsenal’s Raya Up For Bernabeu Battle
He had spoken about the importance of the second leg before 3-0 win
Arteta is on the cusp of guiding Arsenal to their first Champions League semi-final since 2009, but his troops must ensure there’s no Santiago Bernabeu slip-up. Madrid’s home stadium is draped in European miracles, not least their incredible comeback victory over Manchester City in the 2021–22 semi-finals.
Raya had acknowledged how testing the Bernabeu is for any opponent trying to get past the Madrid machine before his side went and secured a 3-0 victory at the Emirates. He told beIN Sports:
Arsenal heads to the Bernabeu next Wednesday (April 16), looking to knock the holders out of Europe’s elite club competition before the semi-finals for the first time since 2020. That would be the most significant feat of Arteta’s short managerial career and cements his reputation as one of Europe’s most highly regarded tacticians.
If the Gunners prevail, it will also be a momentous night for Raya. Although he grew up in Palleja in northeast Spain, 20 miles from Barcelona, his family were Los Blancos supporters, and he idolised Iker Casillas. He will be looking to produce a performance his compatriot carved out throughout his Madrid career.
Statistics courtesy of SofaScore and Transfermarkt – correct as of 09/04/2025.
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