Italians in the Premier League: Donnarumma the derby hero as Tonali’s Spurs misery continues
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Gianluigi Donnarumma and Ruben Dias of Manchester City embrace after the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Four Premier League games in, and the Italians in England are already pulling in opposite directions. Riccardo Calafiori and Gianluigi Donnarumma spent the weekend winning with the two sides at the top of the table. Sandro Tonali is still waiting to see his Tottenham side score their first goal, never mind a win. Honest Ahanor got his first top-flight start and lost, whilst Michael Kayode, Michele Di Gregorio and Matteo Ruggeri saw varying amounts of the pitch from the bench.
Riccardo Calafiori – Arsenal
Back in the XI after sitting out the midweek Champions League win at Napoli, Calafiori was one of four changes Mikel Arteta made for the trip to Sunderland. He went the full 90 minutes as Arsenal ground out a 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light, sealed by Bruno Guimarães’ second-half strike and a Bukayo Saka penalty in stoppage time. It was a fourth win from four for the Gunners, who sit top with a perfect record.
Gianluigi Donnarumma – Manchester City
A decisive afternoon at Old Trafford. Donnarumma produced a stoppage-time save from Bryan Mbeumo to preserve Manchester City’s 1-0 derby win, with Erling Haaland’s contentious second-half goal the difference after Phil Foden had been sent off in the 23rd minute. City played more than an hour with ten men and still won. Donnarumma’s clean sheet keeps them level with Arsenal at the summit, trailing only by one extra goal conceded.
Honest Ahanor – Crystal Palace
A first Premier League start for the youngster, and a chastening one. Ahanor was part of the back three at Selhurst Park as Palace lost 3-2 to Ipswich, Zian Flemming poking in a 90th-minute winner against ten men after Axel Disasi’s first-half red card. There were flashes: he carried the ball into midfield to win a booking and later got down the left to deliver a cross that fell to Quentin Timber.
Sandro Tonali – Tottenham
Another blank. Tonali partnered Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield as De Zerbi’s Spurs drew 0-0 at home to Everton, a second consecutive goalless draw that leaves them with two points and no goals from their first four Premier League matches, and their goal drought now past 400 minutes. The home crowd made their feelings known at full-time.
Michael Kayode – Brentford
Twenty minutes and a point. Kayode replaced Aaron Hickey in the 71st minute at the Vitality Stadium with the game level at 2-2, Kevin Schade’s brace having twice cancelled out Bournemouth goals. Brentford are unbeaten with six points from four, though a third straight draw suggests a side that cannot quite finish teams off.
Michele Di Gregorio – Bournemouth
An unused substitute again as Djordje Petrovic kept his place, and a difficult afternoon to watch, given a calamitous mistake by Petrovic handed Brentford their equaliser. Bournemouth are still without a win under Marco Rose. Di Gregorio will not get many clearer openings to make his case.
Matteo Ruggeri – Aston Villa
Named on the bench and left there as Villa lost 2-1 at home to Nottingham Forest, Liam Delap and Igor Jesus striking either side of Alysson’s 74th-minute equaliser. Unai Emery’s side have made a poor start, and Ruggeri is yet to force his way into the reckoning.
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