David Raya 'crucial' and 'most important' player in Arsenal's UEFA Champions League and Premier League bid

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Is David Raya Arsenal's most important player? TNT Sports expert Joe Cole thinks so, as The Gunners chase a maiden UEFA Champions League crown and first Premier League trophy in over 20 years. The Arsenal goalkeeper produced another sterling display in their quarter-final first leg victory over Sporting CP on Tuesday to keep his tournament-leading seventh clean sheet.

Raya 'most important' player for Arsenal - Cole

Video credit: TNT Sports

Joe Cole believes that David Raya is the key to Arsenal's UEFA Champions League and Premier League success this season.

The TNT Sports expert highlighted The Gunners' goalkeeper as "the most important player" for Mikel Arteta's side, and said "it could be trouble" if he were to pick up an injury during the run-in for major silverware.

Raya sat out as Kepa Arrizabalaga controversially played in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City, as well as Arsenal's Emirates FA Cup exit at Southampton.

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But Raya was back between the sticks for the club's huge Champions League quarter-final first leg victory against Sporting CP and delivered a man of the match performance as he kept his seventh clean sheet in the competition - more than any other goalkeeper.

Former Chelsea and England winger Cole could not speak any higher of the Spain international after another epic performance.

"[Having Raya] makes it crucial, it's crucial," Cole told TNT Sports.

"You look at Kepa coming into the side in the games he played and as much as he's a good goalkeeper, Kepa, he's not Raya.

"You need goalkeepers to make important saves at crucial moments when the margins in these games are so small.

"He was wonderful tonight and they need him to stay fit. Out of all the players at Arsenal, the goalkeeper is the most important. If he doesn't stay fit then it could be trouble."

Highlights: Raya stars as Havertz nets stoppage-time winner for Arsenal

Video credit: TNT Sports

'Extraordinary' Raya 'the best keeper in the world'

Raya made a handful of critical contributions in the game on Tuesday as Arsenal snatched a dramatic 1-0 win in added time at the end of the second half, thanks to a clever finish from Kai Havertz.

The goalkeeper excellently tipped Maxi Araujo's shot onto the crossbar in the early stages, before pulling off a superb near-post stop from Geny Catamo.

Despite Havertz grabbing the deciding goal, Raya certainly made the difference at Estadio Jose Alvalade, and it could have been a different story heading into the second leg at Emirates Stadium next week without his heroics.

"He's extraordinary, magnificent, incredible," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said afterwards, who came under scrutiny for deciding against playing Raya in the Carabao Cup final.

"I don't know the adjective, the right one. And with that, it's enough. We are so happy to have him."

Goalscorer Havertz was just as pleased with his team-mate, who enabled the German to score the winner late on.

"Unbelievable," Havertz said of his goalkeeper. "I think still underestimated in the world of football, but for me, the last two seasons, the best keeper in the world.

"He's outstanding. He's saved us so many times, and we're very glad to have him."

Stream the Premier League, men’s and women’s FA Cups, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

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