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Ex-Spurs star asks if David Raya is 'even a goalkeeper' after Arsenal blunder

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Rafael van der Vaart has slammed Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya (Image: Getty Images)
Rafael van der Vaart has slammed Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya (Image: Getty Images)

Former Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart has laid into David Raya over his attempt to save a penalty from Harry Kane in Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich.

Bayern were awarded a spot kick after William Saliba brought down Leroy Sane, with Kane coolly converting as he sent Raya the wrong way. And while Kane was widely praised for his excellent finish, Van der Vaart slammed Raya for committing early.

Speaking on Dutch TV, Van der Vaart said: "Take a look at Raya. Is this guy even a goalkeeper?Kane doesn't even make a movement but Raya just falls to the ground already."

Raya saved two penalties last month as Arsenal beat Porto in a penalty shootout to set up their Champions League quarter-final clash against Bayern and Kane revealed he studied footage from that game to work out how to wrong-foot the Spaniard.

When it was put to him by TNT Sports presenter Laura Woods that he "took the mic" with his finish, Kane replied: "I know there wasn’t just Bayern fans watching tonight. There was maybe a bit more pressure, but it’s always a tough game.

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"I did a bit of research on his game against Porto and he (Raya) gets to the corners early so I had to probably change my style a little bit, but that is part of it and it was nice to see him go early and make it easier for me."

Raya also came in for criticism over Bayern's first goal, with the goalkeeper running out into "no man's land" after a poor pass from Gabriel was intercepted and Serge Gnabry scored after being set up by Leon Goretzka.

Ex-Spurs star asks if David Raya is 'even a goalkeeper' after Arsenal blunderHarry Kane sent Raya the wrong way from the penalty spot (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

"I would be questioning Raya," former Manchester United defender and TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand said of the goal. "Why are you out there in no man's land?

"It's a bad pass from Gabriel but it's about Bayern here. The weight of the pass and the run, the timing could not have been more perfect. Here, you see Raya, why are you there?

"The defender has it under supreme control and then it's a misplaced pass, but they capitalise on that. The transition here, the counter-attack, they can't react. That weight of that pass running at full pace cannot be underestimated from Goretzka."

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Matthew Cooper

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