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Gianluigi Donnarumma has changed the game for Manchester City as they look to win their Premier League title back
There's a danger of doing a lot of revisionism around Ederson at Manchester City.
For instance, there's every chance that the Brazilian would have saved the one-on-one when Igor Thiago raced through on goal early in the second half. Even more likely is that he wouldn't have been caught in possession late on when the ball cannoned off the Brentford attacker's foot as he closed down Gianluigi Donnarumma and, fortunately for the Blues, fired off for a goal kick.
It is hard not to find causation between Donnarumma's arrival and City's unbeaten seven-match streak though that has seen them establish some control in their campaign. The players felt from his debut against Manchester United that attackers would have to find the top corner to beat him, and he has shown in his last two away league games how formidable he is at set-pieces.
Those who follow Arsenal regularly were surprised at how ineffective they were from dead ball situations against City but they came up against a giant of a goalkeeper who tipped everything away when it came his way. He could have done better for Gabriel Martinelli's equaliser, but City would likely have conceded before then without the Italian.
At Brentford, before Michael Kayode had delivered his first long throw into the box Donnarumma had attracted the referee's attention by shoving away any players around him. It would not be the first time Darren England had to have words with City's No.1 for it, yet he did not give up.
The message from Donnarumma was clear: nobody is going to stop me from getting to any ball I want. That is an undeniable change from Ederson, whose tendency not to command his box was highlighted last year at the Gtech as Brentford scored twice from inside eight yards.
It is a different world for City players to live in when they know their keeper is going to take no prisoners, and a safer one. It is also a fresh challenge for opponents when they see a goliath at both ends of the City team.
Despite the space that is normally between them on the pitch, as they walked off the pitch together in West London it was easy to see how they get along so well.
"He's so big and he's the best keeper in the world," Haaland raved afterwards. "He just got the trophy at the Ballon d'Or.
"Knowing that you are against the biggest keeper in the world is of course motivation, but it's also a more difficult task."
"I’m really pleased," said Guardiola. "I have an incredible striker and ‘keeper. To have Erling there and Gigi at the back, they are two important pieces.”
Donnarumma has shoved City into a different game, and gives them something new for opponents to work out after it felt last year like teams had began to have their number.
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