Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has come under scrutiny for his performance during his team’s penalty shootout loss to Manchester United in the third round of this season’s FA Cup. Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their frustration over his decision-making.
The Gunners, aiming for major trophies under Mikel Arteta, were eliminated from the historic competition by Ruben Amorim’s side after Kai Havertz missed Arsenal’s second penalty.
Earlier in the match, Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring with a brilliantly executed strike in the 52nd minute. Arsenal equalized 11 minutes later when Gabriel’s deflected shot off Matthijs de Ligt found the back of the net.
The game took another turn when Diogo Dalot was sent off for a second yellow card following a reckless challenge on Mikel Merino. Arsenal gained a numerical advantage but failed to capitalize during regulation time. A controversial moment followed as Kai Havertz went down in the box after minimal contact from Harry Maguire, prompting Maguire to brand him a “cheating scumbag.” However, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard missed the ensuing penalty.
Amorim’s side held firm, taking the 3 pm kickoff to extra time and eventually a dramatic penalty shootout, which Manchester United won in style.
In the aftermath, fans criticized Raya’s decisions during the shootout. Despite being regarded as one of the world’s top goalkeepers, Raya’s approach left many baffled. All five Manchester United penalty takers—Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez, and Joshua Zirkzee—converted with ease, aided by Raya’s early dives, which opened clear gaps for straightforward finishes.
One fan shared footage of Yoro’s penalty, captioned, “WHAT IS RAYA DOING,” highlighting how the young Frenchman calmly slotted his shot as Raya prematurely committed to a direction.
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