Gary Neville blasts Arsenal star after Rayan Cherki goal for Man City

Gary Neville was less than impressed by Gabriel’s defending as Arsenal went behind to Manchester City (Picture: Getty)

Gary Neville pointed the finger at Gabriel Magalhaes after Rayan Cherki’s goal in Manchester City’s top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal , criticising the defender for failing to ‘get up to the ball quicker’ in the build-up.

Arsenal held their own in the opening exchanges against City, showing they were up for the fight after a worrying dip in form in recent matches.

But the Premier League leaders went behind to a piece of brilliance from Cherki, who latched onto a loose ball following Piero Hincapie’s clearing header before wreaking havoc inside the Arsenal penalty area.

Gabriel was punished after sitting off Cherki on the edge of the box, with the Frenchman driving forward with pace before twisting the Arsenal centre-back inside-out and beating David Raya with a composed finish.

There was more drama just two minutes later at the other of the pitch, though, as the visitors hit back immediately through the returning Kai Havertz to make it all square.

The Etihad crowd was stunned into silence as Gianluigi Donnarumma clumsily dallied in possession and cleared straight into Havertz, who directed the ball home to set up an intriguing end to the first half.

Analysing Cherki’s early breakthrough on Sky Sports’ commentary of this afternoon’s potential title decider, Neville was less than impressed by Gabriel’s questionable defending.

Cherki struck with an individual piece of brilliance in the 16th minute (Picture: Getty)

Gabriel drew the ire of Neville on Sky Sports’ commentary (Picture: Getty)

‘You talk about big players turning up in big moments… Cherki, I called him last week ‘the ambassador of confidence’ for Manchester City . He’s the ambassador of brilliance,’ the former Manchester United and England right-back said.

‘ Arsenal are shellshocked by a moment of pure class. City just win the second ball and I thought Gabriel should have got up quicker, I thought he should have got up to the ball quicker.

‘As soon as he doesn’t, he’s back in his own box and it’s almost like a fielder on the edge of the boundary in cricket, the way in which Gabriel tries to tackle him. That’s not going to be enough.

‘The touch, the little skip, the balance and then the right-foot finish. That is as good as you will see, it is beautiful from Rayan Cherki .’

Havertz levelled just moments later at the Etihad (Picture: Getty)

On Havertz’s immediate response and Donnarumma’s ‘moment of madness’ at the other end of the pitch, Neville said: ‘This is what we wanted!

‘Cherki’s brilliance is cancelled out by perseverance.

‘I was talking about a moment of madness at the other end from David Raya but Donnarumma… the touch, the delay and Kai Havertz, he’s pressed him into the back of his own net.