Jamie Carragher identifies key reason why Man City can beat Arsenal in Premier League title race

In partnership with

Evening Standard

·8 February 2026

Jamie Carragher identifies key reason why Man City can beat Arsenal in Premier League title race

Man City star produced late heroics to earn crucial three points at Anfield

Jamie Carragher believes that Gianluigi Donnarumma can be the key for Manchester City to beat Arsenal to the Premier League title.

The City goalkeeper produced a world-class save late on at Anfield to deny Alexis Mac Allister, as the visitors clung on to record a 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.

The win keeps the pressure on league leaders Arsenal, and City could close the gap on Mikel Arteta’s men should they beat Fulham on Wednesday.

OneFootball Videos

Speaking on Sky Sports, former Liverpool defender Carragher explained why the Italian could be the difference between Pep Guardiola’s side lifting the trophy in May and not.

"At the start of the season, I didn't think there was any way City could win the league because of the goalkeeping situation,” Carragher said.

"No one wins a Premier League without an absolutely great goalkeeper and there's no doubt about Donnarumma, a Champions League winner who won the Euros with Italy.

"They've got a goalkeeper who can win the league. before they signed him, there was no way they could win a league without signing someone of that calibre."

City signed Donnarumma in the summer last year, having sold Ederson to Fenerbahce.

The 26-year-old joined from Paris Saint-Germain, where he had been pushed out of the first-team fold by Luis Enrique in favour of Lucas Chevalier, with Donnarumma departing the Parc des Princes in a £26million deal after negotiations over a new contract collapsed.

The Italian has kept nine clean sheets in 21 Premier League games this term for his new side, as well as three in nine appearances in the Champions League.