Football pundit Gary Neville believes Manchester City ‘animal’ Gianluigi Donnarumma is a superior goalkeeper to Arsenal’s David Raya.
City signed Donnarumma in the summer transfer window in a £26m deal from Paris Saint-Germain and Neville feels he’s already had a ‘big impact’.
Donnarumma has already established himself as City’s No.1 despite the club also recruiting James Trafford from Burnley for £27m this summer.
The 26-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, helping PSG clinch the Champions League trophy last time while he also won Euro 2020 with Italy.
Neville admits that if he had the option, he ‘wouldn’t pick’ Arsenal’s No.1 goalkeeper Raya over Donnarumma – and also feels the Italian is also better than Liverpool’s Alisson Becker.
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Speaking after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with City on Sunday, Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast: ‘You look at Donnarumma, he’s an absolute animal.
‘He’s just big. When he comes for it, it makes oncoming attackers think about it, because they know they’re going to get a right bash in the head if he comes and hits you.
‘For me, I think he’s a fantastic goalkeeper. He’s the type of goalkeeper I’ve always enjoyed. I like Alisson at Liverpool. I like Raya. But I wouldn’t pick Raya over Donnarumma, or Alisson, because I love a massive goalkeeper.
A Peter Schmeichel, an Edwin van der Sar… It makes a massive difference when your goalkeeper is towering above everyone else.
‘But also when they’re very good at what they do. And he’s very good at what he does.
‘He makes saves, he dominates his box, he’s positive in his actions. He will make some mistakes along the way and that’s fine -but I think he does the right things. He’d had a big impact already at City.’
Metro at the Match: Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City
Metro at the Match returns to bring you all the analysis from the biggest games of the season.
Here are our team’s key takeaways from Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City.
Anonymous Gyokeres again
‘Viktor Gyokeres struggled to have any sort of impact for Arsenal again, which is becoming a worrying pattern when they face a good side.
‘It remains early in the Swede’s Arsenal career but he has been concerningly anonymous in the majority of games he has played so far.
‘Goals have come at home against Leeds and Nottingham Forest, but he has been completely forgettable against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Athletic Club and now Manchester City.
‘Gyokeres may well end the season with decent numbers if he continues to be a flat track bully, but will he win Arsenal the Premier League? Probably not.’ Phil Haigh – sports reporter.
Arteta gets midfield selection all wrong
‘Given the criticism Mikel Arteta faced for his midfield selection in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool this season, it was a shock to see him go with the same trio at home to Manchester City.
‘Arsenal were far too negative in that match at Anfield and it was the same problem in the first-half against City as Arteta named Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino in his XI.
‘The Gunners were lacking in the creative department, especially with Martin Odegaard out injured and Bukayo Saka deemed not fit enough to start.
‘Eberechi Eze was dropped to the bench – a decision which baffled the pundits – and Arteta was surely aware of his error as he decided to bring on Eze and Saka for Merino and Noni Madueke at the break.
‘That’s twice this season Arteta has got his selection wrong in big games and he must learn from this mistake.’ Liam Grace – sports reporter.
Haaland wins this round with arch rival Gabriel
‘This was the latest battle in the ongoing war between Erling Haaland and Gabriel Magalhães and it was a clear win for the giant Norwegian.
‘Haaland left Gabriel in his wake as he sprinted beyond the Arsenal defence to score the opener, calmly finishing to put his team ahead.
‘The Brazilian was made to look slow, which he isn’t, but the Manchester City superstar looks like a powerful race horse when he gets going and he wasn’t going to be caught.
‘The rivalry was sparked when Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel’s head after a Manchester City equaliser in September last year, with the Arsenal man gaining revenge by screaming in the Norwegian’s face during the Gunners’ rampant 5-1 win in February.
‘No doubt Haaland has regained the upper hand.’ Phil Haigh – sports reporter.
Neville: Arsenal must take the handbrake off
Meanwhile, Neville has questioned Mikel Arteta’s team selection against City and has urged the Arsenal manager to take more risks in big games.
‘My narrative with Arsenal was thinking is he going to take the risk?’ Neville added. ‘Is he going to send his players the message that I am going for it, that I believe in you?
‘And the teamsheet comes through and I see that Leandro Trossard, who’s a very good player, and Mikel Merino are on it.
‘I thought the same at Anfield and I can’t help thinking, and I’ve said this probably now for a couple of weeks: I’m not going to look at what a manager says, I’m going to look at what he does.
‘His actions and his actions at half-time were of a manager who I think got it wrong because if you’re making two substitutions at half-time it’s not gone to plan.
‘You know that the players that you started with are not going to be able to win you the game in all circumstances, which is when they go a goal down. So, you’ve given away 45 minutes in a big match… I like watching them play, but they’ve got to take the handbrake off.’
