Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya produced a moment of sheer brilliance that left Sky Sports pundit and Gunners legend Paul Merson in a state of 'delirium' during Saturday's Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Merson's 'Worldie' Reaction on Sky Sports
The pivotal moment arrived in the 76th minute at the Emirates Stadium with the score finely poised. Brighton's Yankuba Minteh, set up by a clever Georginio Rutter backheel, unleashed a fierce left-footed strike that seemed destined for the net.
Providing live commentary, Merson instantly shouted 'Goal!'. However, Raya launched himself across his line in a spectacular leap, managing to fingertip the ball over the bar. A stunned Merson struggled to compose himself, hailing it as 'one of the best saves I've ever seen' and an 'unbelievable... magnificent' stop that kept his former side in front.
Narrow Victory Sees Arsenal Return to Summit
The 2-1 victory, secured through a Martin Odegaard strike and a Rutter own goal, was crucial in the title race. Despite a 64th-minute consolation from Brighton's Diego Gomez, the three points allowed Mikel Arteta's side to leap back above Manchester City to the Premier League summit.
Raya's stunning intervention, which came during his 150th appearance for the club since joining from Brentford, preserved the narrow lead under intense pressure. Brighton players were left with hands on heads in disbelief, while Arsenal colleagues rushed to congratulate their keeper.
Arteta and Odegaard Laud 'Sensational' Moment
Post-match, manager Mikel Arteta echoed the sentiments, labelling Raya's contribution as 'sensational'. Captain Martin Odegaard also praised his teammate, noting: 'I think that was the only big chance they had apart from the goal, it was a great save.'
Arteta expressed overall pleasure with a 'dominant' performance but rued missed chances that kept the margin slim. He also highlighted the squad's resilience in overcoming the late losses of Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, which forced Declan Rice into an unfamiliar full-back role.
The result underlines Arsenal's grit in a relentless title pursuit, with individual moments of magic like Raya's save proving potentially decisive in the final reckoning.
