“We’re on the hunt” – Tijjani Reijnders lauds Rayan Cherki in stern warning to Arsenal | OneFootball

Manchester City star Tijjani Reijnders was full of praise for Rayan Cherki after his side extended their winning run to eight games against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Reijnders scored for the second Premier League week running, opening the scoring in a finely contested battle with Sean Dyche’s side, slotting the ball home between John Victor’s legs cleverly after being teed in by Cherki.

Forest levelled not long after as Omari Hutchinson rounded off a team move but Cherki ensured that the visitors left the east Midlands with all three points, scoring with a brilliant right-footed half volley from the edge of the area late on – as Manchester City maintained the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal in the title race.

Cherki has fuelled Manchester City’s winning streak in the last month and shouldered some of the match-winning responsibility from Erling Haaland, who goals propelled the Blues into the title race after their sluggish start to the 2025-26 season.

The win over Forest saw Pep Guardiola’s marquee midfield additions from the summer register their names on the scoresheet as Manchester City keep grinding out results to keep up with Arsenal, who narrowly beat Brighton at the Emirates Stadium later on Saturday.

“We are on the hunt and this was a good one. We want to keep the pressure on Arsenal and make it as difficult as possible for them. We are on a good way,” Reijnders said in conversation with TNT Sports after the win.

On Cherki, the Netherlands international added: “Very good! A great player, that’s for sure. Very creative, he finds spaces, and we have to be ready if he gets the ball in those positions.”

Reijnders has quickly settled into life under Guardiola, who has given the midfielder the platform to express himself and thrive in the starting XI after not playing the £46 million man as often in recent months.

On Pep Guardiola, Reijnders said: “He makes us all better players. For me as well, now I’m here four or five months and you look at the game different. It makes me very happy to play this way – and I want to learn more and more and more.”

On the standard of the Premier League, having arrived from AC Milan this summer, the Dutchman added: “Every game is hard! You can’t play games at 70% or 80%, you have to be ready for each team – I like it! The intensity is great, and it makes you think much faster than normally.”

City can extend their winning run to nine games in all competitions when they travel to the north-east to face Sunderland, with Arsenal facing a tricky battle against an Aston Villa side who have won their last 11 games.

Reijnders has taken opportunities to start in December with both hands as Guardiola awaits the return of Jeremy Doku, Rodri, Oscar Bobb and John Stones in the New Year, with Manchester City also on the brink of signing Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth when the January transfer window opens.