Arsenal could reportedly make a move for Manchester City attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki as Mikel Arteta continues to look for additional creativity and attacking quality within his squad.
Cherki has established himself as one of the most exciting attacking players in the Premier League since arriving in England. The France international joined Manchester City from Lyon in 2025, signing a five-year contract that keeps him at the Etihad Stadium until 2030.
The Frenchman was brought to City because of his creativity, technical ability and versatility in the final third. During his final season at Lyon, he recorded 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 appearances, demonstrating the attacking output that attracted City to him.
Now, reports linking Cherki with Arsenal are likely to attract significant attention, particularly because of Arteta’s familiarity with technically gifted players who can operate between midfield and attack.
Arsenal have continued to build a squad capable of competing across multiple competitions, and the addition of another creative attacker could provide Arteta with even more tactical options.
Cherki is capable of playing from the right, operating centrally or drifting into spaces behind the striker. His ability to use both feet makes him particularly difficult for defenders to predict. Manchester City themselves have previously highlighted his ability to beat defenders, create chances and shoot from different angles.
An Arsenal move, however, would not be straightforward. Cherki remains under contract with Manchester City until 2030, meaning Arsenal would have to negotiate with a club that invested heavily in bringing him to England.
The player’s importance to City’s current team has also grown. Manchester City’s official website recently highlighted Cherki’s attacking contributions and reported that he won the club’s August Goal of the Month award.
His performances have therefore made any potential departure a complicated situation.
For Arsenal, the attraction is understandable. Arteta’s side already possesses several technically gifted players, but Cherki would offer another creative profile capable of unlocking defensive teams.
The midfielder’s experience in different attacking positions could also allow Arteta to rotate his forwards without significantly changing the team’s attacking structure.
There is also the possibility that Arsenal’s interest could become more serious in a future transfer window if Cherki’s situation at Manchester City changes. With City continuing to develop their squad under Enzo Maresca, competition for attacking positions remains intense.
For now, though, there is no confirmed agreement between Arsenal and Cherki. The player remains a Manchester City footballer, and any claim that he has already agreed to join Arsenal should be treated cautiously.
Nevertheless, if Arsenal were to pursue the France international in the future, Cherki’s creativity, versatility and attacking numbers would make him an intriguing potential addition to Arteta’s squad.
Arsenal supporters will therefore continue to monitor developments surrounding the talented Frenchman, while Manchester City will hope to keep hold of a player they signed specifically because of his enormous creative potential.
