David Raya stood in the corner of the goal having just saved a penalty. Mateo Retegui – the man whose penalty was saved – licked his lips at the chance to make amends by heading the ball into an empty net.

But suddenly the goal was no longer empty. This is the story of Raya’s remarkable double save against Atalanta.

“That is probably one of the best saves I have seen in my career. It was incredible,” said coach Mikel Arteta after the goalless Champions League tie in Bergamo.

“He was very important last year, but this season he has started exceptionally. Today he kept us in the game, that’s the reality.”

In an instant, that was 1,227 expected goals for the Italian striker Retegui – and no actual goals.

Actually, he shouldn’t have given Raya a chance on the rebound, because his header went back into the middle, where the goalkeeper had begun his desperate dive.

Nevertheless, it was an incredible save that draws comparisons to one of Arsenal’s greatest saves – David Seaman’s save against Sheffield United striker Paul Peschisolido in the 2003 FA Cup semi-final.

“It was only a penalty and I was lucky that I went in the right direction,” Raya told TNT Sports afterwards.

“I was unlucky that the rebound went straight to him, but I was quick enough to get up and block it. It’s fantastic to prevent the goal and help the team to at least get a point.”

He added: “I’m fine right now.”

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton said on the BBC Champions League Match of the Day: “It was brilliant the way he got back up and carried on.”

“That’s a wonderful save. Retegui should convert the rebound, but not detract from the save.”

Those were the only saves Raya had to make all evening, 95 minutes and one second of nothing – with two seconds of action.

“He is a cat,” said Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

“The first save is good, but the rebound is incredible. I think the goalkeeper was decisive.”