NEWS. . . BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Paul Merson applauded Aaron Ramsdale for the “good moment” he shared with Arsenal penalty shootout hero David Raya following the team’s Champions League 16-day win over Porto.
Five years after representing Blackburn against Wigan in the league, Raya denied Wendell and Galen from 12 yards to secure the Gunners a place in the quarter-finals, with Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. converting their penalty shootouts.
In the first leg, which they trailed 1-0, Arsenal striker Leandro Trossard had already equalised with a goal in the minute to delight the Emirates.
But the two teams couldn’t pull apart after general time and extra time and Raya stepped up when it mattered most, in what has been a rollercoaster first season for the goalkeeper since his loan from Brentford.
Amid jubilant scenes following Arsenal’s penalty shootout win, television cameras caught a beaming Ramsdale hugging Raya and congratulating his fellow goalkeeper on his performance.
Ramsdale has lost his position between the sticks to Raya and faces a long and dubious run in north London, with club legend David Seaman urging England’s foreigner to his duties after falling down the pecking order.
On the heels of Tuesday’s dramatic shootout, former Arsenal and England midfielder Merson told Sky Sports: “It’s a night for Raya who, let’s be honest, took a lot of beating when he arrived at Arsenal.
“Tonight he showed what a goalkeeper he is. “
Asked if Raya’s recent performances proved Mikel Arteta was right to back the goalkeeper, Merson replied: “Yes, I think so.
“He stayed with him, sought him out, brought him in and showed him fair play.
“And it’s a great moment. . . Ramsdale came up to him, in class, and he smiled and hugged him. It’s a great touch.
After Arsenal secured a place in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2010, Merson claimed his former possessed the quality and character to go “a long, long, very long way” in the competition.
“They reached the quarter-finals, the most sensible thing in the Premier League. Everything is going well for Arsenal at the moment. Awesome,” he added.
“It just gives you confidence [in the name race]. Plus, you also have that extra detail to build on. If they had come out and then lost to Manchester City, you’d be a bit depressed.
“Now, all of a sudden, they’re going to Manchester City and they’ve also been given the Champions League. It’s a great encouragement for Arsenal and it’s also wonderful for the enthusiasts.
Merson continued: “Again, in this game they didn’t know whether to stay or turn, they didn’t play with rhythm. But they stayed there.
“Porto was much more than I imagined, I think it was exceptional.
“What brilliant consequences for Arsenal, a brilliant passer. When you have consequences like that and you have penalty takers and a passer who can avoid consequences, you can go very, very, very much in this competition.
Merson believes Arsenal are “moving forward” Arteta and pose the “biggest threat” to Champions League champions Manchester City, last year’s three-time winners, this season.
“In my opinion, in two games they are the threat of Manchester City,” he continued.
“I think Arsenal can go through if they stay away from Manchester City.
“He took the elephant out of the room. They withdrew from those competitions too many times, many years ago at this point, and tonight they were given through that.
“Arsenal are moving forward, they’re a very smart team. “
Arsenal can now keep an eye on the draw for the Champions League quarter-finals that will take place on March 15.
In Tuesday night’s other second leg, La Liga giants Barcelona booked their place in the next with a 4-2 aggregate loss to Serie A champions Napoli.
Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have already progressed, while Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and PSV Eindhoven remain in contention for the knockout stages.
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