O’Reilly’s fearless quality exposes collapsing Arsenal’s title credentials
LEE SMITH/ACTION IMAGES/REUTERS Nico O’Reilly was the only academy player in either starting XI and his run made the winning goal ‘There’s no way to sugarcoat this. Arsenal have fallen apart’ This was another game where O’Reilly confirmed what was already clear, that he is England’s best left-back 20 Apr 2026 - The Guardian Barney Ronay - @Etihad Stadium It’s not over, not over, not over yet. Although, let’s be honest, it kind of is over. Isn’t it, don’t you think, at the end of a day when Manchester City and Arsenal dished up the one thing nobody was expecting at the Etihad Stadium, a thrillingly open game of attacking football? There were three images at the final whistle that seemed to capture the essence of City’s 2-1 win here, and not just in terms of the game, but the balance of energy, feeling, vibes. The first was the sight of Erling Haaland marching around on a rabble-rousing victory lap, golden tresses dangling free, evening sun glowing across his slabbed and rip...