Man City have Premier League title trump card as Arsenal question emphatically answered

• Sport
• Football
• Manchester City FC

Manchester City claimed a vital 3-0 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday and Rayan Cherki again demonstrated his quality

Pep Guardiola has spoken about growth a lot this season. One Manchester City player is beginning to stand taller than most. Rayan Cherki wasn't too involved in the first 45 minutes at Crystal Palace. By the full time whistle everyone who watched the game at Selhurst Park could be under no illusions as to how talented a player the 22-year-old is.

He was magnificent in Madrid in midweek as City took a sizeable step towards the Champions League knockout stages, and had a huge hand in the Blues claiming a similarly important Premier League victory on Sunday to trim Arsenal's gap at the top back to two points.

The Gunners had left it late to beat Wolves 2-1 on Sunday night with a victory that increased the pressure on City ahead of what was a testing trip to the capital against a top five side. The Blues produced an intelligent and clinical performance to take three goals and three points.

There was a lot to like about the showing, from a clean sheet to Phil Foden's form and Erling Haaland's goals. But it's hard not to like Cherki the most. He's a crowd pleaser, from his rabona assist against Sunderland to his nutmeg on Toni Rudiger in the Bernabeu, he is a joy to watch.

And there is substance to go with the style. He created the second for Foden at Palace with a lovely run and pass. That's six in 466 top flight minutes and eight in all competitions. The France international ranks number one for chances created in the Premier League and you can see why.

He's a fabulously balanced and gifted footballer and marries skill with intelligence. He works hard too. City have covered more distance than any other Premier League side this season, reinforcing their ability with a work-rate. Cherki is very much a part of that.

“Always, we have played football with the ball but we are a team that run incredible," said Guardiola last month. "We have been an example otherwise we wouldn’t win.”

City are doing nothing but winning just now. That's five on the spin as Guardiola's new look side show signs of clicking firmly into gear. Cherki is beginning to show himself as a difference-maker and you feel there is more to come from him and the team. It promises to be an exciting journey.