Two Man City stars can end Premier League debate in Arsenal game

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• Nico O'Reilly

Manchester City pair Nico O'Reilly and Rayan Cherki have both risen to the fore for the Blues this season

Awards season is approaching in the Premier League. Not only is it coming to the point where the destination of the title is decided but it is also when people start to think about the best individuals in the division.

Each player wants to be named the best player, or young player in the league. The Premier League young player of the season recognises the best there is aged 23 or under, while the PFA Young Player of the Year will only allow those who are 21 or under at the start of the season.

There has been a strong City presence in recent years, with Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling winning the PFA award in 2018 and 2019 respectively and then four of the last five years seeing City academy graduates Phil Foden (2), Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers clinch the title. Foden has also won the Premier League young player twice, while Erling Haaland also won it in his first year in English football.

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Ryan Gravenberch and Rogers are the current holders of the two youth titles, although they are unlikely to hold onto their crowns. As we enter the final weeks of the season, the battle for the best youngsters goes on.

Chelsea's Estevao is seen as a leading contender, the Brazilian teenager hitting the ground running at Stamford Bridge and emerging as one of their better players in a mixed season. There have also been shouts for Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman, who started to influence games for the Gunners last month and could have more of an impact in the title race between now and the end of the season.

It is surely hard to argue for any talents in the league who can surpass Nico O'Reilly or Rayan Cherki though. O'Reilly has been one of City's best players all year and is adding Premier League goal contributions from left-back in the final weeks of the season to add to his brace in the Carabao Cup final.

Cherki has not played as much as O'Reilly but is becoming the talisman in a City attack that is threatening to pinch the league from Arsenal again. The 22-year-old is coming up with decisive match contributions but also transcends the club as a popular player whose flair stands out in a league that has become increasingly sterile.

There is an argument to be had between Cherki and O'Reilly, and if City sweep Arsenal aside on Sunday that is surely the only debate to be had for the individual young player awards.