Man City summer signing blasted by BBC pundit for glaring error vs Arsenal
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(Credit: BBC, Imago)
Alex Oakhill
Mon 22 September 2025 7:26, UK
Manchester City have had a difficult start to the season as they aim to reclaim the Premier League title from Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola’s side suffered a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham, before giving away a last-minute goal in their 2-1 loss at Brighton.
On Sunday (21 September) evening, Man City once again conceded late on, this time at the Emirates as Gabriel Martinelli rescued a point for Arsenal in the dying moments.
City’s 1-1 draw with the Gunners leaves them ninth in the Premier League after five games, already eight points adrift of Liverpool at the top of the table.
Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media
Erling Haaland had opened the scoring for Man City in the ninth minute, bursting onto a Tijjani Reijnders pass to finish into the bottom corner.
Guardiola’s side sat back in the second half to protect their lead, but were unlocked by a moment of magic in stoppage time, as Martinelli flicked an Eberechi Eze long-ball over Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the net.
Speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day 2, former Man City goalkeeper Shay Given ripped into Donnarumma, placing full blame for Arsenal’s equaliser on the Italian.
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Given said: “His (Donnarumma’s) starting position is really good.
The goalkeeper, for me, then makes the wrong decision.
If Donnarumma drops off when the first ball comes in and makes the right decision, I don’t think Martinelli even takes the shot on.
“It’s a brilliant finish (from Martinelli), but I think the goalkeeper helps him.
Goalkeeping is as much about decision-making as it is about making saves, and for me, Donnarumma made the wrong decision.”
Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Barcelona are considering ambitious moves to tempt Man City star Haaland away from the Etihad in 2026, sources have told Football Insider.
Credit: Imago
Man City were tipped to sell Haaland during the summer window to aid in their plans to undergo a mass overhaul of Guardiola‘s squad after a dismal season.
Sources say the striker remains a crucial player for City, and they have no intention of entertaining talks about his potential departure.
Interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona comes as no surprise given his stature in the game, but any deal for him to leave Man City is considered highly unlikely.
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