Manchester City's sparkling fullbacks steal headlines in draw with Arsenal

Khusanov was on fire against Arsenal, man-marking winger Leandro Trossard out of the match entirely and ensuring that nothing — not one single attack — could build for Arsenal down his flank. He's come a long way from Tashkent, and he still has plenty more brilliance to show.

The local kid shines

For all its glamour on the international circuit, City doesn't have a great record when it comes to supporting its youth talent. Cole Palmer famously abandoned the side for Chelsea after feeling like he had no future there, while Jeremie Frimpong, shoved off to the Netherlands on loan, wound up absconding to Liverpool. But for every Palmer and Frimpong, there remains at least one case like 20-year-old full back Nico O'Reilly.

O'Reilly, born just down the street from City's Etihad Stadium, has progressed through the team's youth system to earn his spot in the senior starting 11. He performed brilliantly in brief flashes last season, helping City seal its spot in the 2025 FA Cup final, and now looks to be the team's number one choice at left back. Guardiola credits O'Reilly's pace — and his willingness to listen to veteran teammates like Portuguese central defender Ruben Dias — with his rapid ascent to the starting eleven.

"In the back four, now we are stable,” Guardiola said. “We have pace with Josko (Gvardiol), with Mateus (Nunes) and Nico because they are so fast, and the intelligence and unbelievable leadership from Ruben (Dias). So mainly that is the reason why.”

In this crucial match against Arsenal, O'Reilly was tasked with covering winger Noni Madueke — no small feat, as Madueke was the Gunners' quickest and most creative player by some distance. It didn't matter. O'Reilly covered him off at every turn, and his in-box positioning was clever enough to nullify Arsenal's famous set piece advantage throughout the evening.

Discussions of the 2025-26 Premier League season have largely revolved around Liverpool and Arsenal. The two teams are widely considered to be the deepest, strongest and most reliable title challengers in the country. 

But games like this, decided by performances from players like Khusanov and O'Reilly, prove you can never truly count City out. The team is growing from strength to strength across the field. Forget the attacking threat of Erling Haaland; City is quietly, and effectively, growing into one of the league's most impressive defensive outfits.

City will return to Premier League action on Saturday against Burnley.