The Premier League has never been more watched, yet this season a growing number of people — from regular supporters to pundits and even top-tier coaches — have admitted that their enthusiasm is fading. When Arne Slot remarked that the English top flight was “not a joy to watch,” many agreed with the Liverpool manager, and the statistics supported his view.

This campaign has seen fewer goals per game than last season, along with a decrease in the average number of passes and direct attacks per match. Conversely, goals from set-pieces have risen, and long throws have more than doubled. Even the total time the ball stays in play has declined.

League leaders Arsenal have become the main target of criticism for these trends, with manager Mikel Arteta favouring physicality and control over flair in his quest to deliver the club’s first league title in 22 years.

As a result, many neutral fans are backing Manchester City ahead of Sunday’s decisive title clash, seeing them as standard-bearers of attacking football and entertainment. And no player embodies City’s exuberance more than Rayan Cherki.

Leading the charge

Known for his in-game tricks, rabona assists, and unpredictable creativity, Cherki has become the symbol of resistance against the rigid and mechanical style that Arsenal have come to represent.

The French playmaker has been dazzling crowds since his days in Lyon’s youth academy, making headlines at just 16 when he became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer.

However, his rise was anything but smooth. His self-assured attitude often led to clashes with managers, as he tended to push boundaries and test authority.

Given his individualistic tendencies, Pep Guardiola’s decision to sign him raised eyebrows. Many doubted whether such a free-spirited player could succeed under a manager known for strict tactical discipline — one who famously drained creativity from Jack Grealish and clashed with Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Winning Guardiola’s trust

Even Guardiola has occasionally shown frustration with Cherki’s audacious displays. During the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, he shook his head as Cherki juggled the ball mid-game, and after a stunning rabona assist against Sunderland, he advised him to “keep things simple” like Lionel Messi.

Yet, Cherki’s recent performances have been so crucial in City’s pursuit of Arsenal that Guardiola has chosen to let him express himself freely.

Before facing Chelsea last week, Guardiola said, “Rayan is a special, special player. He’s a bit of a free soul. I’m a manager who likes control, and sometimes it’s so hard to watch from the sidelines. My heart... pff. He gets the ball, starts the tricks, and my instinct is to shout, ‘Rayan, please, play simple!’ But if I tell him that, I destroy the player. What he did against Arsenal, against Liverpool… exceptional. Unbelievable. I want to see it again. If he feels it, he does it. Go out, express yourself, and show the world how good you are.”

‘We’ll bring you the ball’

Cherki repaid that faith at Stamford Bridge, breaking Chelsea’s resistance with a brilliant cross to Nico O’Reilly and later setting up Marc Guehi after a mesmerising dribble to seal victory.

His performance was so influential that Guardiola declared Cherki no longer needed to track back defensively. “His mum and dad gave us this talent to play close to Haaland, but sometimes he’s near [Gianluigi] Donnarumma, and that’s useless,” Guardiola said after the win that closed the gap on Arsenal. “Play close to Haaland, the wingers, and the attacking midfielders. Use the talent that mum and dad gave you. When he does that, he’ll become extraordinary. We’ll bring the ball to you. No need to come down.”

‘Can reach De Bruyne’s numbers’

Some City fans were initially disappointed when the club signed Cherki instead of Florian Wirtz. But former City defender Gael Clichy, who worked with him in France’s under-21 side under Thierry Henry, was confident about his potential. “If we talk about quality, I haven’t seen anyone that good,” Clichy told GOAL in September. “If he improves his off-the-ball work, he can reach Kevin De Bruyne’s numbers. In tight spaces and key areas, he creates danger.”

Cherki has done exactly that. Only Bruno Fernandes has more assists in the Premier League this season, and Cherki leads in open-play goal contributions, with just one assist from a set-piece.

Should have played more

City’s position might have been stronger had Guardiola trusted Cherki earlier. The Frenchman started on the bench in the Champions League last-16 first leg against Real Madrid, coming on with 21 minutes left when City were already 3-0 down.

He was again benched against West Ham soon after — a puzzling choice given Nuno Espirito Santo’s reputation for defensive football. Cherki came on at 1-1, injected creativity, but it was too late as City dropped points and fell nine behind Arsenal. Guardiola later admitted, “Now you can criticise me incredibly, for the selection — I deserve it. Sometimes it’s about balance. When we play Erling with Jeremy [Doku] or Cherki, we lose stability, which Premier League teams must have.”

Never under pressure

It briefly seemed Guardiola was aligning with Arteta’s philosophy, favouring stability over flair. But since those setbacks, Cherki has started every game — and delivered each time.

The Frenchman shone in the Carabao Cup final, starred in the 4-0 win against Liverpool, and was outstanding again versus Chelsea. His place in Sunday’s lineup is beyond doubt.

Arsenal, who edged past Sporting CP with a goalless draw to reach the Champions League semi-finals, will likely adopt a similar defensive approach at the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola warned, “If we lose, it’s over,” but a draw could be just as damaging, leaving Arsenal six points clear with six games to go.

For City, it’s a must-win scenario. “If you could buy confidence in a supermarket, we’d buy it immediately,” Guardiola joked. But he doesn’t need to. All he must do is unleash Rayan Cherki — a player who plays as if nerves simply don’t exist.