Arsenal legend Ian Wright has voiced concerns over goalkeeper David Raya’s penalty-saving approach following the team’s 1-1 draw with Everton on Saturday.
“Giving It Up Too Early” – Wright Criticises Raya’s Penalty Approach at Goodison Park
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring for the Gunners at Goodison Park, but Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye equalized from the penalty spot shortly after halftime.
Raya has faced criticism for his penalty techniques, notably diving too early during Arsenal’s FA Cup shootout defeat to Manchester United in January.
Wright believes Raya’s pronounced movements are making it easier for penalty takers to anticipate his direction.
“I saw something the other day with David Raya on the penalties,” Wright commented on Premier League Productions.
“He seems to be taking this massive leap to one side, which is almost giving the penalty taker so much time to say, ‘well, he’s definitely going that way’.”
Wright elaborated on how Raya’s early commitment affects his effectiveness:
“I’ve seen penalties being taken against him recently where he’s continually going the wrong way.
I think his form in trying to save them is wrong, simply because he’s going so far, he’s making such a commitment to one side.
He’s giving it up, especially if you’ve got a longer run-up; you can actually see him a yard away from the ball, he’s gone, he’s [Ndiaye] not kicked the ball yet, and David Raya has taken two steps to his right.
You’re going to see that when you’re running up; you can see he’s committed to one side.”
This isn’t the first time Wright has expressed concerns about Raya’s performances.
In a previous match against Brentford, Wright highlighted a lapse in concentration from the goalkeeper that nearly resulted in a goal.
“It’s a lack of concentration from David Raya,” Wright noted.
“He does brilliantly to recover. You can see the desperation from him. You can see how close it was. That would have been disastrous, especially with the way Arsenal were dominating.”
Raya’s penalty-saving techniques have become a topic of discussion among fans and pundits alike.
As Arsenal continues its campaign, supporters will be keen to see how the coaching staff addresses these concerns to bolster the team’s defensive resilience.
