Gianluigi Donnarumma's error-prone season at Manchester City contrasts sharply with David Raya's flawless Premier League campaign at Arsenal, a difference that could prove decisive in the title race.
Donnarumma has made three errors leading to goals in all competitions this season, while Raya is yet to make an error leading to a goal in the Premier League. The Italian was beaten at the near post by Ridle Baku's attempted cross in City's 3-2 win over RB Leipzig on Wednesday, and let Nicolas Jackson's low shot squirm through his grasp in the 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa 11 days prior.
Maresca dismisses Donnarumma concerns
City manager Enzo Maresca has repeatedly refused to entertain the topic as one open to debate. "It's not a concern, but it's a mistake," Maresca said after the Leipzig error. "We recognise that; he knows that it's a mistake, but now it's Nottingham Forest away, we need to be focused on that."
He echoed those comments after the Villa defeat. "Gigio, since we started, is doing well," he insisted. "Like any player or any manager at some point, he is making some mistakes, but it's part of the season."
"They are playing so many games and minutes that sometimes it's impossible not to make some mistakes. He's quite a strong guy. He knows when he makes some mistakes. He doesn't need us to tell him. Sometimes it's so clear, so they recognise that. It's part of the game."
Defensive record and goalkeeper comparison
Former City goalkeeper Joe Hart launched an impassioned defence of Donnarumma on The Overlap Daily, insisting the Italian was trying to cut out Baku's cross and be a team player when he was beaten by a freak goal. Hart also conceded Donnarumma was "confusing himself" through his positioning and should focus on preventing "the worst-case scenario".
Donnarumma has faced 33 shots on target in the Premier League this season, 11 more than Raya. City, and in particular Marc Guehi, have been error-prone at the back, while Arsenal have been resolute with their beefed-up backline thanks to the signing of Ezri Konsa. Arsenal have six clean sheets to City's three, having conceded five goals to City's 10.
Square peg in a round hole
Concerns over Donnarumma are nothing new. When City signed him from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2025, question marks arose over how he'd fit into Pep Guardiola's playing style. Donnarumma is renowned as a fantastic shot-stopper, not a ball-playing keeper of the modern era.
Maresca acknowledged the issue after the 2-0 win over Porto in September. "I think a few times tonight it's not Gigio's mistake, it's more the wrong decisions to go back to Gigio," he said. "Sometimes we go too many times back to Gigio when we don't need."
Former Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel told Mirror Football on behalf of Grosvenor Sport: "They're completely different goalkeepers, and it's about how you want to play. I mean, Donnarumma stands at six foot five and Raya's barely six foot."
"I would say Raya is probably better on crosses than Donnarumma, believe it or not, because he has great timing and great spring when he comes out for a ball. I think Donnarumma is a huge presence in goal. If you're a striker and you look up, you're probably thinking, where can I strike to score?"
"Whereas Raya is a little bit different. He uses his quickness for his saves. So as a striker, you probably think the corner's free, and then before you know it, Raya's hand's there."
Raya has the edge
Friedel added: "Playing out of the back, I would say Raya has the advantage. Certain shot-stopping areas, probably Donnarumma has a little advantage because of his size."
"With Donnarumma, I don't have that many games to go by yet to know if he's the perfect fit for Maresca's style or not. But he's definitely a quality goalkeeper. But I would probably give Raya a little bit of an advantage over him with everything that I just said, as far as fitting in a system."
Arsenal appear to have the best of both worlds in Raya, while City may need to adapt their playing style to avoid more costly errors from Donnarumma.
