Two Manchester City youngsters have changed the dynamic of the City defence | OneFootball

Manchester City have kept two clean sheets in their past two matches. Their defensive performances have dramatically improved in their wins over Manchester United and Napoli. Having Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal has helped City defensively. Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol playing together at centre-back makes Pep Guardiola’s side a stronger defensive unit. The importance of Josko Gvardiol to Manchester City can not be overlooked. The impressive play of Nico O’Reilly and Abdukodir Khusanov in the full-back positions has also helped City defensively. The pair have made crucial contributions in City’s past two matches.

Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico O’Reilly bring size and athleticism, plus poise and technical ability, to the Manchester City defence.

With Khusanov and O’Reilly playing in the full-back positions, the Manchester City defence has a different look entirely. Khusanov is a lightning-quick player, which helps him make up ground against quick wingers. He is also strong in a challenge, and he’s beginning to read the game exceptionally well. Compared to Rico Lewis or Matheus Nunes, Khusanov looks to be a safer bet at right-back. Khusanov’s play in possession in also improving rapidly. That is a welcome boost to Pep Guardiola’s side. The same can be said for Nico O’Reilly at left-back.

Playing Nico O’Reilly at left-back allows Josko Gvardiol to play at centre-back. That makes Manchester City’s defence a stronger unit. O’Reilly also brings his own strengths to the left-back role. He is a midfielder by trade; his technical ability aids City’s build-up play. His physical attributes, such as his size and athleticism, also help make Manchester City’s defence a different proposition entirely. O’Reilly is also developing as a defender. He has more than held his own defensively against Manchester United and Napoli. Although after Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s early red card, Antonio Conte’s side didn’t carry much of an attacking threat.

The test for Manchester City’s new-look defence will come on Sunday.

It would be a major surprise if Nico O’Reilly, Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, and Abdukodir Khusanov weren’t City’s defence against Arsenal. The quartet deserve to start Sunday’s big match at the Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta’s side is blessed with a wide array of attacking options. The threat they carry going forward is levels above that of Manchester United and a depleted Napoli side. Especially out wide. If, as expected, O’Reilly and Khusanov start at the Emirates, they’ll have to be on their game defensively to contend with Arsenal’s wide men.

Manchester City have improved defensively in their past two matches. The performances and presence of Nico O’Reilly and Abdukodir Khusanov have helped in this regard. They have both played well against United and Napoli. Alongside Gianluigi Donnarumma, Josko Gvardiol, and Ruben Dias, they have helped give City a solid foundation at the back. A test of that foundation is coming against Arsenal. But City’s defence looks physically equipped to deal with that threat at the Emirates.