Arteta says David Raya was NOT at fault for two howlers that almost cost Arsenal valuable points against Luton
MIKEL ARTETA refused to blame David Raya for two errors in the comeback win at Luton.
There Spanish goalkeeper has usurped Aaron Ramsdale as Arsenal's No1 this season since arriving on loan from Brentford.
But he did not cover himself in glory at Kenilworth Road and almost cost the Gunners dear.
With Arsenal leading 2-1 early in the second half, Raya got caught under the ball from a corner.
He flapped at the ball but was outjumped by Elijah Adebayo who headed in Luton's second equaliser of the night.
Then just eight minutes later, the Hatters went in front when Raya allowed Ross Barkley's low shot to squeeze under him.
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Kai Havertz made it 3-3 on the hour mark before Declan Rice snatched a 97th-minute winner to rescue all three points for high-flying Arsenal and spare his goalkeeper's blushes.
But Arteta would not be drawn into criticising his new first-choice stopper.
The Spaniard said: “We conceded goals that we are disappointed with tonight, but that is going to happen and how we reacted to it was great.
“We have to defend these situations better as a team. There are certain things leading to the goals.
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"And it is not about blaming him (Raya), we have never done that and we're not going to do it now.
"It is about how the team reacts to that because it's going to happen and I love that response.
"I think we can defend much better the goals, that's for sure."
WhoScored however gave Raya a match rating of just 4.07, which they said was the lowest by any player in the Premier League this season.
Raya's arrival at the Emirates this summer has divided many Arsenal fans with Ramsdale sidelined.
The England star's dad even said his son has "lost his smile" and slammed the way Arteta went about the change as "wrong".
But Raya's latest errors - following a blunder at Chelsea - saw calls for Ramsdale to be reinstated intensify last night.
One Gunners fan said: "Every time I watch Arsenal it looks like Aaron Ramsdale should be playing."
Another commented: "What makes Raya any better than Ramsdale?"
And a third replied: "Ramsdale definitely having a laugh later tonight…"
'SPECIAL NIGHT'
Rice's dramatic last-gasp winner sparked wild scenes on the pitch, in the away end and in the dugout.
But Arteta's exuberant celebrations in the moment saw him booked by the referee.
And that is his third booking of the season, meaning he will serve a touchline ban at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Asked if it was worth it, the Gunners boss said: "Yeah, I could not be sitting on my seat, unfortunately.
"So I left there, I had no spatial awareness at all. It was just pure emotion.
"So if that's a yellow, OK it's a yellow.
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“It was a special night. The resilience, the character, the quality and the desire to win that we showed was great.
“We never want to accept a draw. You can sense the drive and the risk and emotion that we put into every game."
