{"id":7273,"date":"2026-04-19T10:14:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T10:14:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=7273"},"modified":"2026-04-19T10:14:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T10:14:58","slug":"emmanuel-petit-names-the-man-city-star-he-wishes-arsenal-would-have-signed-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=7273","title":{"rendered":"Emmanuel Petit names the Man City star he wishes Arsenal would have signed | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t<\/div>Mikel Arteta\u2019s side are struggling to score goals from open play (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit fears Arsenal missed a trick by allowing Rayan Cherki to join Manchester City in the summer.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
While Pep Guardiola\u2019s Premier League rivals were spending huge sums last summer bolstering their forward options, Cherki cost a relatively modest \u00a335million. <\/p>\n
The France international\u2019s entertaining style has decorated City\u2019s recent run of form which has seen his side pull onto the coattails of Arsenal ahead of Sunday\u2019s summit meeting at the Etihad. <\/p>\n
Arsenal\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
The Gunners are already being linked with moves for further reinforcements when the transfer window reopens with Newcastle\u2019s Anthony Gordon much admired by Mikel Arteta.<\/p>\n\n
\n\t\t\t<\/div>Rayan Cherki has been in superb form for Manchester City (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Petit is a fan of the England international as well, but won\u2019t be able to help himself making envious glances at Cherki when he lines up against Arsenal this afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u2018Anthony Gordon to Arsenal?\u2019 Petit told Andy\u2019s Bet Club. \u2018I do know if Arsenal\u00a0want\u00a0to reach the next step, which means playing probably better football, good football the whole season, they have to bring talented wingers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Look 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.<\/p>\n
\u2018Arsenal\u00a0have\u00a0Bukayo Saka, who has been injured and had a really bad season so far. Noni Madueke, for me, is a good player, but he\u2019s not among the best in this position.<\/p>\n\n
\n\t\t\t<\/div>Rayan Cherki cost Man City just \u00a335million (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u2018It\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018So, 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.<\/p>\n
\u2018As I said, I think Arsenal has to change the competition for these positions. <\/p>\n
\u2018They have to bring talented players and probably also someone who can control the game in midfield, who has vision and can\u00a0be the link between\u00a0the midfield and the striker, just like Rayan Cherki is doing at City.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
\n\t\t\t<\/div>Arsenal are interested in signing Newcastle\u2019s Anthony Gordon (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u2018I 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.<\/p>\n
\u2018Arsenal 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\u2019t win anything, it could become very difficult for some players.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Some players will probably knock on the manager\u2019s door, saying, \u2018I\u2019m tired, I want to win trophies, and I\u2019m not confident I can win it here.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018The second big question\u00a0is,\u00a0If you do win trophies and you keep your best players, then you need to add more quality on the flank. Definitely.\u2019<\/p>\n
![\"Arsenal](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2271063240.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646\")
\t<\/div>![\"Chelsea](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2271126602.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=594\")
\t<\/div>![\"Chelsea](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2271007168.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=594\")
\t<\/div>![\"Crystal](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2270977857.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=594\")
\t<\/div>