Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has praised Pep Guardiola‘s decision to start Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji at left-back against Arsenal last week.

The centre-half kept Bukayo Saka quiet for the whole evening during the 4-1 win and Neville has said that he was massively impressed with the Swiss international’s performance:

“I was amazed the other night that Akanji played at left-back. But then he had the most incredible, fantastic match against (Bukayo) Saka. He kept Saka as quiet as anybody I’ve seen.”

Considering all the money that City have spent over the years, you would have to say that Akanji has turned out to be one of the best bargain purchases they have made.

The 27-year-old had a year left on his contract at Borussia Dortmund so the Premier League champions opted to take a chance on the defender before the transfer window closed last summer.

Akanji ended up costing only £15m and, considering some of the performances he has put in over the course of the season, including the game versus the Gunners, it really has ended up being a steal.