Rayan Cherki powers Manchester City's title charge with victory over Nottingham Forest

Pep Guardiola's team secure 2-1 win to boost title chances before Arsenal regain top spot

Rayan Cherki of Manchester City celebrates with teammate Josko Gvardiol after scoring his team's second goal against Nottingham Forest. Getty Images

Rayan Cherki bolstered Manchester City's title charge as the France midfielder capped a superb display with the late goal that sealed a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest.

Pep Guardiola's side survived a scare from Forest to provisionally move to the top of the Premier League.

Cherki set up Tijjani Reijnders' second-half opener at the City Ground and blasted the winner after Omari Hutchinson equalised with his first goal for Forest.

City have won eight successive games in all competitions, including six in a row in the league.

Later in the day, Arsenal returned to the top of the table after defeating Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.

The day, however, belonged to French midfielder Cherki.

"When the games come ‍we need just one thing: to win. We take the points because the ⁠championship is so long and so hard, so today is a big win," Cherki told TNT Sports.

"It's good for the team because the game was not simple."

City dominated possession in a goalless first half but struggled to break down Forest's compact defensive shape, with striker Erling Haaland largely isolated up front.

Forest's best chance fell to Morgan Gibbs-White, who failed to convert Callum Hudson-Odoi's cross from behind the defence early in the game.

The breakthrough came within three minutes of the restart when Cherki slipped the ball through for Reijnders and the Dutchman fired home from an angle to make it 1-0.

But City's lead lasted ⁠only six minutes as Forest launched a swift counter-attack ​that ended with Igor Jesus ‍crossing for Hutchinson, who took his shot first-time and beat Gianluigi Donnarumma to score his first goal ⁠for the ‌club.

Forest sensed victory but squandered chances when Jesus and Nicolo Savona both shot over, ⁠while at the other end Phil Foden's effort was well saved by goalkeeper ⁠John Victor.

City's sustained pressure finally paid off when Josko Gvardiol headed down a corner kick for Cherki, who took it on the half-volley and sent a low drive from the edge of the box into the back of the net to restore their lead.

Forest's loss also extended Sean Dyche's winless record against Guardiola to 17 Premier League games, the longest winless streak for a manager against another in the league.

City manager Guardiola said it was a really important result for the team.

"That's a really, really, really big three points," Guardiola told TNT Sports.

"We have 18 games played so we have now finished the first leg. And in the second we know that coming is a lot of games like today. The Premier League is tougher, tougher, tougher, but it is important to be there. Winning or losing today would not mean it's over, we have many games."

Arsenal's Martin Odegaard, right, celebrates with Declan Rice after scoring against Brighton and Hove Albion. AP

Arsenal back on top

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard's first club goal of ⁠the season helped ​his side beat Brighton and ​Hove Albion 2-1 at ‌home to return to the top ​of the Premier League table.

For the second week running, Arsenal kicked off having been displaced ‌by Manchester City earlier in the day and ‍they responded once ‍again to the challenge.

Odegaard's season has ⁠been disrupted by a knee injury but he showed his trademark precision in the 14th minute to drive a left-footed shot low past Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen.

Arsenal were totally dominant and doubled their lead with a Georginio Rutter own goal in the 52nd minute.

Brighton had offered next to nothing as an attacking force until Diego Gomez slammed in ⁠a rebound in the ​64th minute after ‍Yasin Ayari's shot came back off the post.

The visitors ⁠came on ‌strong late on and would have equalised ⁠had Arsenal keeper David Raya not produced ⁠a stunning save to keep out Yankuba Minteh's curling effort.

It was a nervy finish but Arsenal held on to move to 42 points from 18 games with City on 40.