As with all slow feelings, the appreciation of something that takes time to understand gives the heat a different kind of depth. David Raya, whose signing confused and frustrated many Arsenal fans when he arrived, received a special round of applause from the travelling corner at Atalanta’s new stadium. They were not the only ones impressed by his stunning double save. “He’s a cat!” shouted the Italian Mister who has walked many blocks, Gian Piero Gasperini.

He is a cat who has had a few personalities during his career at Arsenal. The first was hesitant and a little cautious as he got used to his new surroundings. The current one behaves like a braver creature, confidently roaming around his area, checking everything out and not letting anything he encounters unsettle him.

Raya’s double save against Matep Retegui was the decisive moment of this Champions League duel. It was almost like two penalties in one move with a fightback in between, so strong were the one-on-one situations. The first save on his right was solid – but the agility with which he turned and reached over to convert the second, Retegui’s rebound, was breathtaking. “I saw two of the best saves of my career in that moment,” said Mikel Arteta.

DAVID RAYA, BOW DOWN!

One of the best double saves you will ever see 🤯

📺 @tntsports and @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/sPgZF293QI

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) 19 September 2024

Confidence, as Arsene Wenger always said, is the easiest to lose and the hardest to gain. It is extraordinary what confidence has done for 29-year-old Raya. Now that he is undoubtedly established as Arsenal’s number 1, he behaves differently. He exudes calm and control. He is not the tallest (6’1″) for his position – which was initially criticized – but his stature and presence have grown.

It was understandable that he felt inhibited when he arrived at the club. It was complicated. He became increasingly stern in terms of attention from Brentford to Arsenal. He was not particularly welcome among the fans who idolised his predecessor Aaron Ramsdale. He lived and trained every day with the goalkeeper he suddenly replaced, although to Ramsdale’s credit he was never unkind or unsupportive in difficult situations.

This is not a bad sign for Ramsdale as a person or a goalkeeper, but Raya seems liberated to have had his transition season and come out the other side, living up to the faith Arteta has put in him. He has reached a higher level of consistent excellence and seems so comfortable in his role as goalkeeper. To be so relaxed, so composed and focused is typical Seaman. “I’m in a good place now,” he said.

Raya dives to the right to save Retegui’s penalty (Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

When Petr Cech moved from Chelsea to Arsenal, John Terry said he was the kind of goalkeeper who would win points and predicted he would bring his club 12-15 points. As Cech got older and his reactions caught up, that hasn’t been the case. But it is a testament to Raya’s form this season that he is playing like a goalkeeper who will win points for his team.

“Last year was very impressive, even in this different context,” says Arteta. “This season he has been exceptional. His saves against Villa and Atalanta kept us in the game. That’s what you need from a goalkeeper at this level.”

When the pressure mounted to preserve the team’s outstanding defensive record this year, he handled it with aplomb. Atalanta were awarded a penalty after Thomas Partey awkwardly made contact with Ederson, and the penalty took a while to review.

Raya took advantage of the delay and left his goal to go into the dugout on the wrong side of the halfway line – quite an adventure for a man in his position – to make contact with Inaki Cana.

“I spoke to the goalkeeping coach to get a better feel for what to do and what not to do,” Raya said. “He has helped me a lot in every way, so he deserves credit too. He does all the work. The players, the staff, the fans, the belief they have in me and Inaki has so much faith in me, I just have to deliver for the club.”

Retegui braced himself for the penalty, his feet stamping on the turf like a fancy tap dance, and ran to shoot. Raya dove straight in to intercept, but did an even better job of parrying the ball by jumping up, changing direction and blocking the rebounding header. For his efforts, he was showered with a big hug from William Saliba, Gabriel and Benjamin White – that’s a lot of hugging.

Arsenal’s defensive instincts were called into action that night, showing that the team is still searching for a style of play that works without Martin Odegaard at the helm.

The changed system makes a lot of sense. It allows Arsenal to keep Kai Havertz up front and, in theory, use a lot of strikers. But without the well-practiced combinations and moves, there was a lack of cohesion and composure. It was not the best night for the final pass. Arsenal will no doubt work on their smoothness and accuracy in this regard.

It was Raya’s night. At the end, he quietly gathered all his things from the goal and walked alone half a pitch towards the rest of the team. He gave Cana a long hug, then Arsenal’s reserve goalkeeper Neto, then his Atalanta counterpart Marco Carnesecchi, before making his way to the visiting fans. The ovation was his. The song they sang was his. The recognition was his.

That’s why he came. That’s why he was signed. He’s laid-back and straightforward and is no longer underestimated. He wears the number 1 on his back, a relic from his arrival when another goalkeeper wore the main shirt. But in every other way he is number 1.

(Top photo: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)