Mikel Arteta Gives Verdict on David Raya’s Role in ‘Strange’ Mykhailo Mudryk Goal

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Mikel Arteta has called Mykhailo Mudryk’s goal against Arsenal in the dramatic 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge “very strange”.

Arsenal were forced to come from two goals down on Saturday evening to keep their unbeaten start to the 2023/24 Premier League season intact, with goals from Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard salvaging a point late on.

Chelsea had taken a surprising 2-0 lead in the game originally thanks to a Cole Palmer penalty and a Mudryk goal at the start of the second half.

Mudryk’s goal, against the club who had been close to signing him prior to his move to Chelsea in the January transfer window, was scored in rather surprising fashion. With David Raya in no man’s land in his own box, Mudryk saw a side-footed cross from the left flank loop over the Arsenal goalkeeper’s head and into the back of the net.

Raya has come under criticism for his positioning in the lead up to Mudryk’s effort, and speaking after the game Arteta admitted he thought it was a “very strange” goal to give up.

He said: “I haven’t seen it live again, we looked at it from the angle, it’s a very strange angle to concede from. I didn’t know if it was a deflection or the trajectory of the ball.”

With pressure piling on Raya after a number of nervy performances recently – notably against Manchester City and Chelsea – Arsenal fans chanted former number one goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale’s name during Saturday’s game.

When asked about these chants and calls for Ramsdale to return to the starting lineup, Arteta replied: “Great, I love him, I will sing as well for him, every single day we’ve sung a lot for him, yesterday because he was a father, the most beautiful thing to do and he’s someone who has this charisma and personality and is very loved around the team.”

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