Jamie Carragher insists Man City’s sub goalkeeper Stefan Ortega has ‘won them the title’ after denying Son Heung-min one-on-one as Pep Guardiola fell to the floor

Jamie Carragher has claimed substitute goalkeeper Stefan Ortega has ‘basically won Manchester City the Premier League’ after he produced a superb save to deny Son Heung-min an equaliser in the 85th minute of their 2-0 defeat by Man City.  

Prior to the match, Arsenal fans had jokingly implored Tottenham to secure a victory against City, to help the Gunners take a step closer to their first Premier League title in 20 years. 

Yet, Spurs succumbed to a 2-0 victory, with Erling Haaland scoring twice in the second half to give the Cityzens a two-point lead on Mikel Arteta‘s side, heading into the final game of the season this Sunday. 

Ange Postecoglou‘s side could have done their bitter north London rivals a favour had they won, and Carragher claimed during Sky Sport’s coverage of the match that Son that Arsenal fans ‘would be two-footing the TV’ after they saw Son fail to put away his chance in the dying embers of the match. 

Carragher also added on X (formerly Twitter): ‘That Son chance will become for Arsenal fans what the [Vincent] Kompany goal is for Liverpool fans.’ 

Son Heung-min broke free in the 85th minute and had the chance to score an equaliser

Ortega showed his reflexes to produce a brilliant stop to deny Son a one-v-one chance 

Ortega’s sensational save had sent Pep Guardiola falling backwards to the ground in shock

It was, though, a superb save from Ortega, who had come on as a substitute for Ederson in the second half, following his sickening head clash with Cristian Romero. 

And the substitute goalkeeper’s block was so good, it had sent Pep Guardiola falling to the ground in shock. 

And Carragher believes that the save from Ortega will have had massive implications for City’s title hopes, with the ex-Liverpool defender going as far as claiming it could have won them the league title. 

‘The fact that we gave Ortega man of the match, Ortega, based on tonight alone, has basically won them the Premier League title,’ Carragher said to Sky Sports.

‘There’s obviously a lot that’s gone into that over the season, but when you look to this game, this wasn’t about the goal from Haaland or the assist from [Kevin] De Bruyne. If he doesn’t make those saves at 1-0, Arsenal will win the league. That’s how close it is. 

‘When I think of me a few years ago, as a Liverpool fan, put that shot in against Leicester, that is that moment now for Arsenal fans. That Son chance is the moment that Arsenal fans will remember in five, 10, 15 years time. And even if they win a Premier League title in five or six years – they have a great chance of doing that, they have a great team and a great manager – but that chance will still haunt them.’ 

After the game, the Spanish manager and Son shared a nice moment on the pitch and were photographed shaking hands while smiling after a thrilling second half. 

Tottenham will now miss out on securing Champions League football next season, with the north London club failing to close their five-point gap on Aston Villa who currently occupy fourth place. 

Jamie Carragher (right) claimed Arsenal fans would be ‘two-footing their TV’s’ after Son’s miss

Carragher added the chance was similar to Vincent Kompany’s screamer vs Leicester in 2019

Guardiola took a moment before regaining his footing after Ortega’s sensational save 

Guardiola (right) and Son (left) shook hands as they conversed following the match

Ortega’s team-mate, Rodri, was also left speechless by the goalkeeper’s save. 

‘Stefan was just simply incredible,’ Rodri said to the club’s website.

‘One-nil up if they scored we were out. [He made] outstanding three saves, I have no words.

‘The mentality of these guys and the substitutions. We have to talk about the substitutions today.

‘Stefan saved us, Jeremy [Doku] was unbelievable and all the players who came in were exceptional. This talks about the team.’