Rayan Cherki revels in Manchester City goal celebration “in front of the Arsenal fans” | OneFootball

Rayan Cherki has revealed he was thinking more about his celebration than the goal itself as he curled home a stunning opener in Manchester City’s 2-1 Premier League win over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in April.

The 22-year-old’s effort – a swerving, instinctive finish that cut inside from the left and flew into the far corner – was widely regarded as one of the goals of the Premier League season and set City on their way to a victory that kept the title race alive heading into the final month of the campaign.

Speaking to Men in Blazers ahead of Saturday’s must-win game against Brentford, Cherki was characteristically unbothered when reflecting on a moment that had the Etihad Stadium on its feet, insisting it felt entirely routine in the moment.

Cherki: I was thinking about my celebration

Asked about the moment itself, Cherki’s answer was as disarming as the finish. “For me it was something normal,” the France international said.

“I was thinking more about my celebration than what I’d just done in the box. I was just enjoying the moment. Enjoying the celebration in front of the Arsenal fans.”

The response will surprise nobody who has followed Cherki’s debut season at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola has spoken at length about the playmaker’s natural confidence, describing the talent behind moments like the Arsenal goal as something “that cannot be taught, cannot be guided”.

Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero added his own endorsement in recent weeks, insisting Cherki has made City “a much better team”, with his son among those already driving him “crazy” asking for his shirt.

The fact that Cherki’s first thought after one of the goals of the season was his celebration, rather than the technique or the occasion, says everything about the mentality that has made him such an instant hit in Manchester.

For a player who describes football as “like art, like music”, the moment was simply another brushstroke: to be enjoyed, savoured and then moved on from.

What has Cherki’s season looked like at City?

Cherki’s goal against Arsenal was the defining image of his debut season in English football, but it was far from an isolated moment.

The former Lyon man arrived at the Etihad Stadium last summer for £34 million and has since accumulated 24 goal contributions in 47 appearances in all competitions, producing a series of performances that have made him one of the most talked-about players in the Premier League.

His two assists in the 3-0 win at Chelsea in early April were central to reigniting City’s title charge at its most uncertain moment, while his role in the 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final dismantling of Liverpool underlined the consistency of his contribution across multiple competitions.

talkSPORT presenter Adrian Durham has already declared Cherki the only credible contender for Footballer of the Year – regardless of who wins the Premier League title.

Guardiola’s only public note of caution has been a desire for more of those moments on a consistent basis, telling reporters he wants “five of those actions” per game rather than one.

It is the kind of demand that only gets made of players a manager truly believes can meet it. With an FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley and four Premier League games still to play, Cherki will have plenty more opportunities to answer that call before the season is out.