Several Arsenal players, including William Saliba, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhães, and Gabriel Martinelli, have joined their respective national teams for international duty. Among them, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya represented Spain on Friday in their Nations League clash against Denmark, where he played a key role in Spain’s 2-1 victory in Copenhagen. This match marked Raya’s ninth international cap and his fifth consecutive start for Spain.
Spanish media outlets widely reviewed Raya’s performance, highlighting both his strengths and moments of vulnerability during the game. According to *Marca*, Raya was given a rating of 7.5 out of 10. The publication noted his effective handling of Denmark’s initial corner in the first half, describing it as a solid start without significant challenges. However, the second half brought a moment of controversy for Raya. *Marca* described a costly sequence in which Fabián Ruiz passed the ball back to Raya, who failed to notice Denmark’s Isaksen pressing him. Attempting to dribble past the striker, Raya lost possession, which allowed Denmark to score. While the publication assigned greater responsibility for the goal to Fabián, they also acknowledged that Raya made amends later in the game. His crucial save near the end was instrumental in securing Spain’s lead, demonstrating his ability to recover and deliver under pressure.
*El Desmarque* offered a slightly lower rating of 6 out of 10 for Raya, praising his calmness and precision in distributing the ball throughout the match. However, they also pointed out that Fabián’s error directly contributed to Denmark’s second-half goal, while Raya’s decision-making under pressure compounded the issue. Despite this misstep, *El Desmarque* highlighted his decisive save during stoppage time, where he denied Skov Olsen from leveling the score, ultimately preserving Spain’s victory.
Similarly, *AS* emphasized Raya’s contribution to Spain’s win, particularly through his late-game heroics. The publication described his last-minute save as “fantastic,” noting how he deflected a dangerous shot from Skov Olsen with his left foot, redirecting it onto the far post. This key moment was crucial in maintaining Spain’s narrow lead and underscored Raya’s resilience and importance to the team’s success.
Overall, while Raya’s performance included a notable error, his ability to recover and deliver a critical save late in the match earned him praise from multiple sources, solidifying his role as a valuable asset for Spain.
