Pep Guardiola lauds 'extraordinary talent' Rayan Cherki after Chelsea win - but Manchester City boss gives Frenchman one piece of advice

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Manchester City closed the gap on leaders Arsenal to six points with a statement 3-0 victory at Chelsea which was inspired by Rayan Cherki, whose two assists had head coach Pep Guardiola searching for superlatives. But the City boss is aware that there is still scope for his maverick midfielder to improve on his "extraordinary talent" - provided he positions himself higher up the pitch.

'We did a lot of strange things' - Arteta reflects on Bournemouth defeat

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Rayan Cherki is capable of becoming "an extraordinary player" at Manchester City, provided he focuses predominantly on making a difference in the attacking third, according to Pep Guardiola.

Cherki provided two assists to take his tally to 10 for the season in the Premier League as City closed the gap on leaders Arsenal to six points with a 3-0 win away to Chelsea.

Guardiola appeared unimpressed by the 22-year-old's showboating last month during his side's Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal - with the Frenchman juggling the ball mid-game - but his contribution on Sunday was decisive.

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Cherki sparkled throughout against an out-of-sorts Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Guardiola believes the midfielder is capable of growing into an "extraordinary player" - on the proviso he takes on board his words of advice.

"Rayan is an extraordinary talent," Guardiola told Sky Sports. "The second goal, the pass to Marc [Guehi]. The problem for Rayan is sometimes he plays in positions too close to [Gianluigi] Donnarumma, your talent has to be in the final third. Be close to [Erling] Haaland, close to wingers.

"We will bring the ball to you. It's not necessary to come down [the pitch]. He is so young, his impact in Premier League in first season... he is already an extraordinary player. He has the desire to be even better. That will be good for City and him."

Rayan Cherki was Chelsea's chief tormentor during the second half

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After Arsenal dropped points at home to Bournemouth on Saturday the signs are starting to look ominous for Mikel Arteta's side, despite their current six-point cushion.

Over the final 10 games in each of the past five Premier League seasons, City have suffered just one defeat in 43 matches, winning 32 and drawing 10.

That consistency has extended into the current run, with Guardiola's men having lost only once in their past 19 league fixtures, collecting 12 victories and six draws, and are unbeaten in their past nine matches - a sequence that matches their longest unbeaten streak of the season.

They still have a game in hand - a home fixture against Crystal Palace which is yet to be scheduled - making next Sunday's meeting between the two title protagonists at the Etihad Stadium of vital importance.

Jeremy Doku skips through to score Man City's third

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Having finished in second place for three consecutive campaigns, the pressure on Arsenal to end a 22-year wait for a Premier League title is beginning to tell - but Guardiola is remaining focused on maintaining City's current momentum.

"The past is something unique," he added. "But we are growing. We have long weeks now, being out of the Champions League. We are more fresh, training everybody, people understand more what to do. That's the reality.

"We are going to play against a team [Arsenal] that in 49 games lost three games, in Champions League didn't lose once. In the Carabao Cup final City were complete underdogs - there is not one person in this country that would bet £1 that we would be much better. Maybe now it's a bit different.

"The respect I have for Arsenal, what they have done the last few years. I know the manager, the players, the quality, how they compete in every circumstance, that's the biggest job we have. There is tactical issue, maybe we will adjust something.

"They have been the best team in this country, in Europe, so far. Beating Arsenal once is so difficult, imagine beating them twice in a few weeks. We have to rest.

"I would like to say to my fans - respect Arsenal a lot, they are an extraordinary team. Come to join us from minute one because the players will do the maximum."

Rosenior: Same story for past month

While City are smelling blood, Chelsea have their own battles to fight - and the manner in which they turned a promising first-half display into another dispiriting defeat by a three-goal deficit will alarm supporters, many of whom left long before the final whistle.

The hosts, who were without Enzo Fernandez following a self-imposed ban on the Argentina midfielder for comments made regarding his future, face an uphill battle to qualify for next season's Champions League after a fourth defeat in their past five league matches.

Liam Rosenior knows his side are in a battle for Champions League qualification

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The manner of the goals conceded to City were all soft, with Nico O'Reilly and Guehi afforded far too much room inside the box for the opening two finishes, before Moises Caicedo was ambushed by Jeremy Doku in the build-up to the third.

Rosenior told Sky Sports: "We weren't good enough in the second half. We didn't start the half well, we had moments to clear the box and didn't. We had the moment to keep the ball and didn't. They were camped in our half for the first five minutes, where we concede a goal. Great cross and great header.

"Then it's a similar story for the past month now in terms of dealing with setbacks. When you go a goal down against a team as good as this, what you have to do for the next five minutes is stay in the game.

"Before you know it, it's 2-0 and it becomes a difficult half against an outstanding team. We want to chase the game but you know if you do, with the players they have and the way they play, you have to keep the ball. It ended up being a difficult second half."

City never looked back after Nico O'Reilly's opener

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"I am accountable. This is a group. It's something we need to improve. It starts with your habits and values. I can't say there was a lack of effort. But there was a lack of confidence in the second half. We have to improve. We are in a difficult place at the moment and we have got another huge game next week.

"We can't forget that we were playing against a team in massive form, pushing for the title. But we need to win games like this. That's why I have come to the club. When you make these errors, the feeling and flow of the game changes. We have to make sure we need to do better in those moments if you want to win a game of football.

"It's not an excuse for the second half performance. But if that [Marc Cucurella] goal goes in, we go up in terms of confidence and energy. But we have to be more resilient to setbacks. You can go a goal down but you have to stay in the game - that's what disappointed me the most."

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