Official: Donnarumma starts but Calafiori ruled out of Man City vs. Arsenal

Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal for Manchester City, but there is no Riccardo Calafiori in the Arsenal squad as the two sides prepare to do battle in a potential decider for the Premier League title on Sunday afternoon. 

Donnarumma starts but no Calafiori in Man City vs. Arsenal

The Premier League title race could go down to the wire as just six points separates the leaders Arsenal and reigning champions Man City heading into the final stretch of the 2025-26 campaign. City have played one game fewer than their title rivals ahead of Sunday’s meeting. 

Italy international Donnarumma starts in goal for Manchester City in what is his 29th consecutive Premier League appearance. The Azzurri captain has played every league fixture and all but one of the Champions League fixtures he has been available for since joining city from PSG over the summer. 

There is no Calafiori in the Arsenal squad, however. Head coach Mikel Arteta confirmed during his pre-match press conference that the former Roma and Bologna defender was touch and go for the Man City game, but the Gunners have decided to go with Piero Hincapie at left-back and have decided to leave Calafiori out altogether. 

Arteta had an opportunity to observe Calafiori along with Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard, who had all been doubts, during Saturday’s training session. Odegaard is the only one of those three to have been called up and goes straight into the starting line-up.