Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya became the focal point of critique following his team’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace. The opening fixture at Selhurst Park was a pretty intense match. Understandably, Crystal Palace had the tactical acumen to exploit Raya’s position well off his line for their opening goal.
He likes to sit deep to protect his back four. Yet this controversial tactic has long been under fire for abuse. As former soccer player Jamie Carragher stands, there’s nothing good that can come from this positioning.
Crystal Palace’s Strategy
As Oliver Glasner, manager of Crystal Palace—a team that, like many in the Premier League, practiced specifically to exploit Raya’s high positioning—explained postgame. He said that strategy had been talked about and worked on leading up to the game.
“Yes, honestly, we trained it yesterday but it didn’t work so well like today on the training ground. Sometimes you need this one moment,” – Oliver Glasner
The moment Glasner referred to came when Crystal Palace capitalized on a miscalculation by Raya, leading to their opening goal. By overrunning his line, Raya allowed space to open for the incoming forward runners on the break. The home side wasted no time capitalizing on that chance.
Furthermore, Glasner talked on importance of set pieces going into the game. It’s no wonder that both sides are two of the highest set piece scorers in the Premier League this season. This creates a huge paradoxical challenge for his players.
“We talked about it before: we had two teams scoring the number one and two [most goals from set pieces in the Premier League]. I think one or two were equal and we said OK, let’s take this challenge, this is good to be part of it,” – Glasner
Carragher’s Critique
It’s safe to say that Carragher wasn’t impressed with Raya’s performance. He raised eyebrows with his questionable decision-making and positioning, particularly when it came to high-pressure situations, such as penalty kicks. The ex-England international claimed Raya’s best attribute is his ability on the ball. With smart, speedy attackers in the opposition, his high line can put him out to dry.
“I don’t like saying that because Crystal Palace supporters understandably get upset. But in the last two seasons, he’s not just been a handful, but he’s also been a real goal-getter.” – Jamie Carragher
Carragher went on to expand on whether or not Raya would be able to handle the rigours for teams pushing to qualify for Champions League Football. He said Raya had extraordinary, robust, world-class talent. We ought to think about how well his approach meshes with the new priorities of big clubs.
“Can he go to that next level, teams that are challenging for the Champions League? Crystal Palace are a level below that, a typical mid-table team. I think he’s brilliant.” – Jamie Carragher
Ongoing Discussions
The conversation about David Raya goes far beyond this game. His role on Arsenal’s team has still been the subject of extreme debate among pundits and fan circles. With Arsenal seeking to solidify their defense while aspiring for success in domestic and European competitions, Raya’s high positioning has raised questions about tactical adjustments.
His explosiveness with the ball at his feet has made him an incredibly dangerous attacking threat for Arsenal. But, as we saw in that same game against Crystal Palace, there are dangers with being this high and mighty on the press. Carragher’s criticism is indicative of a growing concern. A lot of folks are asking if Raya can withstand the heat of high-stakes games, where each and every choice counts.
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