Gary Neville feels Man City 'animal' is superior to Arsenal star in same position

Gary Neville has lauded Gianluigi Donnarumma for his early impact at Man City (Picture: Sky Sports)

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 .

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.

Gary Neville is a huge fan of Gianluigi Donnarumma (Picture: Getty)

‘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.

David Raya has won the Premier League Golden Glove twice (Picture: Getty)

‘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.’

Viktor Gyokeres had another frustrating afternoon for Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)

Mikel Merino lasted just 45 minutes (Picture: Getty Images)

Erling Haaland and Gabriel scrapped it out once again (Picture: Getty Images)

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.