Emmanuel Petit names the Man City star he wishes Arsenal would have signed

Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit fears Arsenal missed a trick by allowing Rayan Cherki to join Manchester City in the summer.

The former Lyon attacking midfielder made a slow start to life under Pep Guardiola, but has played an increasingly influential role over the course of the last few months.

While Pep Guardiola’s Premier League rivals were spending huge sums last summer bolstering their forward options, Cherki cost a relatively modest £35million.

The France international’s entertaining style has decorated City’s recent run of form which has seen his side pull onto the coattails of Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s summit meeting at the Etihad.

Arsenal’s title tilt has been largely founded on a steely defence and a reliance on set-pieces, with goals from open play in increasingly short supply.

Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres were signed last summer but none has managed to match the impact Cherki has made at his new club.

The Gunners are already being linked with moves for further reinforcements when the transfer window reopens with Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon much admired by Mikel Arteta.

Petit is a fan of the England international as well, but won’t be able to help himself making envious glances at Cherki when he lines up against Arsenal this afternoon.

‘Anthony Gordon to Arsenal?’ Petit told Andy’s Bet Club. ‘I do know if Arsenal want to reach the next step, which means playing probably better football, good football the whole season, they have to bring talented wingers. 

‘Look at Bayern Munich. Look at Paris Saint-Germain. Those teams who play very good, controlling football and are winning the best prizes have that kind of player.

‘Arsenal have Bukayo Saka, who has been injured and had a really bad season so far. Noni Madueke, for me, is a good player, but he’s not among the best in this position.

‘It’s quite the same on the left wing with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. I have respect for them, they are good players, but they are not among the best in their position. 

‘So, for Arsenal, I think this is the missing piece. They need a striker as well, but I think the quality on the flanks is what the attack has been suffering from sometimes.

‘As I said, I think Arsenal has to change the competition for these positions.

‘They have to bring talented players and probably also someone who can control the game in midfield, who has vision and can be the link between the midfield and the striker, just like Rayan Cherki is doing at City. 

‘I wish Cherki would have gone to Arsenal. I was saying that for months and months last season. Pep Guardiola knows what it takes to bring that kind of player.

‘Arsenal is a very good team, but there are two big questions for them. First, you need to win something. You need to keep the spine of the team, just like you have been doing for the last couple of seasons. But if you don’t win anything, it could become very difficult for some players. 

‘Some players will probably knock on the manager’s door, saying, ‘I’m tired, I want to win trophies, and I’m not confident I can win it here.’

‘The second big question is, If you do win trophies and you keep your best players, then you need to add more quality on the flank. Definitely.’