MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City knew it was getting possibly the world’s best shot-stopper in signing Gianluigi Donnarumma as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper for this season.
The problem with the Italy international, however, was his frailties with the ball at his feet.
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Manchester City's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Rayan Cherki celebrates with his teammate Erling Haaland after scoring his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Arsenal's Kai Havertz celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Unfortunately for City, that was shown up Sunday in its biggest game of the season.
City had just taken the lead through Rayan Cherki in its much-anticipated Premier League title-race showdown with Arsenal when Donnarumma received a back pass from Matheus Nunes.
There seemed little danger when Donnarumma took a touch but he dallied on the ball, allowing Arsenal forward Kai Havertz to close him down. Donnarumma tried a hurried clearance but a nightmare ensued as the ball was charged down by Havertz’s outstretched leg and rebounded back into the net.
Donnarumma looked down at the ground and was distraught. A number of his City teammates ran over to the goalkeeper and comforted him.
Being able to pass the ball out from the back has typically been a pre-requisite for goalkeepers used by City manager Pep Guardiola.
It was why the signing of Donnarumma seemed at odds with City’s playing approach that was reflected in the raking passes and calmness under pressure with the ball at his feet shown by long-time goalie Ederson Moraes for the previous eight years.
Donnarumma vowed to improve his passing out of the back upon joining City but his issues have proved costly, gifting Arsenal a way back into the game at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
City fought back to clinch a 2-1 win, however, with Donnarumma atoning for his mistake with a crucial save low down from Havertz in the second half.
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Manchester City's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Rayan Cherki celebrates with his teammate Erling Haaland after scoring his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Arsenal's Kai Havertz celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City swung the Premier League title race in its favor by beating Arsenal 2-1 on Sunday thanks to a second-half winner by Erling Haaland.
Haaland’s league-leading 23rd goal of the campaign in the 65th minute allowed City to trim the gap to Arsenal, the long-time frontrunner, to three points. City has a game in hand at Burnley on Wednesday, after which Pep Guardiola’s team could have taken over as leaders.
Rayan Cherki gave City the lead in the 16th minute of a frenetic match at Etihad Stadium by weaving into the area and converting a shot in off the inside of the post.
Arsenal was back level inside two minutes after Kai Havertz charged down Gianluigi Donnarumma’s clearance, with the ball rebounding into the net from close range.
Both Haaland and Arsenal's Eberechi Eze struck the goal frame before Haaland slotted home a low shot from Nico O'Reilly's cross, dealing a huge blow to Arsenal's hopes of a first league championship since 2004.
City is expected to beat Burnley, but has a tougher run-in than Arsenal that includes trips to Everton and Bournemouth.
Unlike City, which is unbeaten in 10 league games, Arsenal is struggling for form, having lost four of its last six games in all competitions — including its last two in the league.
Mikel Arteta's team, the league runner-up for the past three seasons, also has to balance playing in the Champions League after reaching the semifinals.
Liverpool and Aston Villa look to be headed for the Champions League after grabbing stoppage-time winners on Sunday.
Virgil van Dijk headed home in the 10th minute of added-on time to earn Liverpool a 2-1 victory at Everton in a Merseyside derby featuring a record-tying goal from Mohamed Salah.
Salah, who is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season after nine trophy-filled seasons, marked his final derby by slotting in a low finish in the 29th minute. His ninth Merseyside derby goal drew him even with Liverpool great Steven Gerrard for the most in the Premier League era (since 1992).
It was Liverpool’s other stalwart, Van Dijk, who sealed the win by turning in a corner by Dominik Szoboszlai.
There was so much stoppage time because Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was forced off on a stretcher after sustaining an injury attempting in vain to save a 54th-minute shot by Beto that brought Everton level.
Villa, meanwhile, beat Sunderland 4-3 thanks to Tammy Abraham’s goal in the third minute of stoppage time.
Fourth-placed Villa moved 10 points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea. Liverpool is in between them, but stretched its advantage over Chelsea to seven points.
The top five in the Premier League will qualify for the Champions League.
Morgan Gibbs-White scored a second-half hat trick as Nottingham Forest rallied to beat Burnley 4-1 and further boost its survival hopes.
Forest moved five points clear of third-to-last Tottenham in the relegation zone, while next-to-last Burnley slipped closer to the drop to the Championship.
Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland heads the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta react during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Arsenal's Kai Havertz celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Rayan Cherki celebrates with his teammate Erling Haaland after scoring his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White celebrates scoring his side's third goal to complete his hat-trick during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Burnley in Nottingham, England, Sunday April 19, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
FILE - Sweden's Viktor Gyokeres dribbles during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Slovenia and Sweden at the Stozice stadium in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)
