Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has raised eyebrows ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League showdown against Arsenal after admitting there’s one Gunners star he’s genuinely afraid to face — and surprisingly, it’s neither Declan Rice nor Bukayo Saka.
Speaking in today’s pre-match press conference, the Italian international reflected on their last meeting with Mikel Arteta’s side and singled out one Arsenal player for special praise.
“The last time we played them, I know what my eyes saw,” Donnarumma told reporters. “And now I hear he’s even in better form. The only thing that scares me about him is his shot accuracy. I haven’t seen such a player in my entire career before.”
Though Donnarumma didn’t immediately name the player, sources within the PSG camp have confirmed that the keeper was referring to Arsenal’s in-form forward Gabriel Martinelli.
The Brazilian winger has been on a hot streak in recent weeks, with his blistering pace and clinical finishing causing problems for defences across Europe. In their previous encounter, Martinelli nearly scored twice, forcing Donnarumma into two crucial saves and rattling the post with a thunderous effort late in the second half.
Donnarumma’s candid admission adds extra spice to an already highly anticipated second-leg clash, with PSG needing a big performance to overturn a narrow deficit.
“I’ve faced top strikers in Serie A, in the Champions League, and in international football, but his precision — especially in tight spaces — is different,” Donnarumma added.
Arsenal fans have reacted with excitement on social media, with many hailing Martinelli as their potential match-winner once again.
As kick-off approaches, all eyes will be on whether Martinelli can once again terrorise PSG’s defence and prove Donnarumma’s fears well-founded.
