Arsenal fans have been left furious at their goalkeeper David Raya after he gave Bruno Fernandes the ‘entire goal to aim at’ on the stroke of half-time
Arsenal fans were left furious at shot-stopper David Raya as the Gunners conceded on the stroke of half-time.
Mikel Arteta’s side had travelled up north to Old Trafford to reignite their rivarly with Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. And after a snoozefest of a first-half, Bruno Fernandes raised the roof with a splendid free-kick.
However, Arsenal fans weren’t too impressed – and they blasted Raya for leaving half the goal open for Fernandes.
“Mate why has Raya given him the entire goal to aim at,” one fan shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. While a second said: “What is David Raya’s positioning here? He looks WAY too far over? Fernandes didn’t even put it in the corner, either…”
“State of Raya for the free kick,” a third posted. And another added: “Raya thought he did something giving Bruno that space…”
Paul Merson agreed with the fans, telling the Sky Sports studio at the break: “I’m not a goalkeeper but I’ve seen a lot of free-kicks and it doesn’t matter how hard he hits that ball, it was that far inside the post and he was nowhere near it.
“I don’t see too many goals from free-kicks going in that far inside the post. I don’t think his position was right.”
However, Roy Keane pointed to the power of the free-kick that might have caught Raya off guard: “Captain fantastic! I’ve never doubted Fernandes’ quality but thought he could do more for the team.
“What a strike, the power, the technique. I think the pace of it has surprised the goalkeeper.”
It was the first time since December 1 that United have lead a Premier League game at half time, ending the longest run in the division of not being ahead at the break.