Paris Saint-Germain took a 1-0 lead over Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal on Tuesday, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma playing a decisive role.
The Italian goalkeeper was in imperious form at the Emirates Stadium, earning praise from pundits, fans, teammates, and even his opposite number, David Raya.
The performance marks yet another turning point in Donnarumma’s rollercoaster journey at PSG — one where he’s evolved from a question mark to a game-saving titan.
Donnarumma Saves vs Arsenal
Arsenal weren’t short of chances. Mikel Arteta’s side had five shots on target and came close on multiple occasions through Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. But Donnarumma, with cat-like reflexes and unshakable composure, denied them all.
The standout save came in the second half when Trossard cut inside and fired low across goal — only to be thwarted by Donnarumma’s lightning-fast reaction and firm hand.
That Donnarumma save from Trossard was unreal! 🤯#LetsFly | @qatarairways pic.twitter.com/XthtNb9Hxq
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 29, 2025
Earlier, Martinelli attempted a Thierry Henry-esque finish, curling towards the far post, but again, the Italian keeper came up big.
La Gazzetta dello Sport headlined it simply: “Another show.” The outlet, along with Sky Sport Italia and Tuttosport, rated Donnarumma as PSG’s best on the night — even as UEFA officially awarded Player of the Match to Vitinha.
Vitinha Gives POTM Award to Donnarumma
While UEFA named Vitinha as the Player of the Match at the Emirates, the Portuguese midfielder made it clear who he thought deserved it.
After the final whistle, Vitinha handed the MVP trophy to Donnarumma in the PSG dressing room, calling him “the real MVP” in an Instagram story featuring the Italian goalkeeper.
🥇 Vitinha takes a selfie with Gigio Donnarumma: “The real MVP”. pic.twitter.com/iMyG8IxyQJ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 29, 2025
David Raya and Mikel Arteta Praise Donnarumma’s Performance
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was gracious in defeat, reserving special mention for his rival. “Donnarumma made some brilliant saves,” he told Prime Video. “It’s only half time. We take a lot of positives, but credit to him — he kept them in it.”
Even Arteta admitted Donnarumma made the difference: “Those are the margins at this level. He did it against Liverpool. He did it against Aston Villa. And now against us.”
Donnarumma’s Redemption Arc
It’s hard to believe Donnarumma is still only 26. Since debuting for AC Milan at 16, his career has seen soaring highs and frustrating lows — from being hailed as Buffon’s heir to being blamed for errors in key games.
Earlier this season, in the group stage against Arsenal, his mistakes directly led to goals in a 2-0 loss. But fast forward six months, and Donnarumma looks every bit the world-class shot-stopper his supporters always claimed him to be.
He’s been PSG’s pillar through the knockout stages: saving penalties against Liverpool, making game-saving stops against Aston Villa, and now putting Arsenal to the sword. His leadership as Italy’s captain and his consistency for PSG are silencing critics game by game.
Champions League Semi-Final: Advantage PSG
With a narrow but precious 1-0 lead heading into the second leg at Parc des Princes, PSG find themselves in the driver’s seat. But as Arteta reminded the press, the tie is far from over.
Still, if Donnarumma’s current form continues, even the best strikers in Europe may find themselves locked out.
Donnarumma PSG Contract
Off the pitch, Donnarumma’s future appears secure. His current deal with PSG runs until June 2026, and his agent, Enzo Raiola, confirmed ongoing talks to extend his stay.
“Campos wants to keep Gigio, and we want to stay,” Raiola said. “He’s a leader for Italy and could be the same at PSG.”
Key Stats: Donnarumma This Season
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Clean Sheets: 11 in 37 appearances for PSG
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Goals Conceded: 37
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Champions League Saves Against Arsenal: 5
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Italy Caps: 72 (Captain since late 2023)
