David Raya
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has admitted he is still adjusting to the new Premier League ball following Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick that secured Liverpool’s 1-0 victory at Anfield on Sunday.
The strike, curled from 32 yards into the top-left corner, maintained Liverpool’s 100% start to the season and handed them an early advantage in the title race. Despite conceding, Raya praised the quality of the goal, explaining that the new Puma balls introduced this season may have affected his ability to stop it.
“I haven’t seen it back yet. Disappointed not to save it like every goal you concede,” Raya told Sky Sports. “I think it’s a hell of a strike. I remember the ball moving a lot and moving away from me. Hopefully, the next one I can save.
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“It’s a very good strike, especially with the new balls—we still have to adapt. It’s going away from me, so it’s harder to gauge and save it. The grip is different, the kick is different. We just have to adapt after playing with the Nike ball for many years. It’s the same for everybody.”
Dominik Szoboszlai scored a stunning freekick against Arsenal on Sunday (Image credit: Getty Images)
Puma replaced Nike as the Premier League’s official ball supplier ahead of the 2025/26 season, and players across the league are adjusting to its different handling and flight characteristics.
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Szoboszlai, who scored the decisive goal, attributed his success to dedicated practice. Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, the Hungarian midfielder said: “A lot of practice, especially in the last few weeks. We had a chance to practice because we had only one game in a week.
“I practiced this shot for a long time and hopefully a couple of times it’s come out like that. I can’t really explain how I hit the ball the way I do, it’s just practice.”
Liverpool will aim to maintain their perfect start when they travel to Burnley on September 14 after the international break, while Arsenal will look to regroup following the narrow defeat.
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