Maitland-Niles hails Lyon winger Cherki

Maitland-Niles has become one of the leaders at Lyon but Cherki (left) is the young spark in the attack under manager Paulo Fonseca

Ainsley Maitland-Niles can count stars such as Bukayo Saka, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Phil Foden among his former team-mates but it is young Lyon sensation Rayan Cherki the ex-Arsenal man describes as the "best natural talent" he has ever seen.

Maitland-Niles and Cherki are part of a resurgent Lyon outfit who face Manchester United in the quarter-final of the Europa League at the Groupama Stadium on Thursday (20:00 BST).

As well as Maitland-Niles, Lyon have ex-Premier League players in former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette and ex-United midfielder Nemanja Matic, plus World Cup winners in France international Corentin Tolisso and Argentina defender Nicolas Tagliafico.

But Cherki, 21, is the player that catches the eye and, according to Maitland-Niles, will be a major threat on Thursday night.

"He is the best natural talent I've ever seen," he tells BBC Sport. "An absolute master, a wizard with the ball."

Cherki has nine goals and 18 assists in 36 games this season across all competitions but individual moments, like his two mazy dribbles to set up Malick Fofana goals against Rangers or his wonderful vision to pick out striker Georges Mikautadze against PSG have made the headlines.

"He is taking chances, assists and dragging us up the pitch by taking people on and nutmegging them - he is a genius," adds Maitland-Niles.

Only three players from Europe's top five leagues - Bruno Fernandes (129), Raphinha (122) and Joshua Kimmich (113) - have created more than Cherki's 103 chances in all competitions this season. And he ranks second in Ligue 1 for completed dribbles with 74, behind Paris St-Germain's Desire Doue with 79.

There are also training videos of Cherki with France Under-21s, where he displays equal ability to control and volley a ball with both feet.

"He is two-footed, has no fear, keeps going and going, can get past people with such ease, such finesse," says Maitland-Niles.

"He is now working for the team off the ball and has gone to another level this season."

In an in-depth interview with BBC Sport, Maitland-Niles also talks about why Arsenal are too reliant on Saka, success under Jose Mourinho at Roma, moving to France and why Lyon will show Manchester United "respect".

'Life has taken a different turn'

Maitland-Niles has been a near ever-present for Lyon and played 34 matches in all competitions this season

After becoming the second youngest Arsenal player to appear in the Champions League, Maitland-Niles thought he would be at his boyhood club his entire life.

The defender had been in the Arsenal academy since the age of six and grew up supporting the club but opted to leave on a free transfer to Lyon in 2023.

"Life has obviously taken a different turn," he says. "I thought I'd have been in the Premier League my whole career and things obviously didn't go to plan with Arsenal.

"But I'm thankful to the club and they didn't put any blockages when it came to leaving. I left as, like most footballers, I wanted to play."

But why not join another Premier League club?

He says: "I told my agent not to tell me which clubs were interested but just the ones with firm offers.

"Lyon were the first to come in and it was such a big club showing their trust and belief in me. It was hard to turn down and it was a good time to try something different. I was at a point where I needed to be shown a lot of love and thought it was a good fit for me.

"Of course, I am happy with where I am at this point in time. But who is to say what might come up? In the meantime, I am very happy here and enjoying every moment.

"I am still that same player as I was at Arsenal but now with a stronger mindset and more consistency and I know what it takes to succeed."

'I'm still an Arsenal fan'

Maitland-Niles won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2020

A debut under legendary manager Arsene Wenger, a Europa League final start under Unai Emery in 2019, winning the FA Cup with Mikel Arteta in 2020 and winning five England caps all rank among the major landmarks in Maitland-Niles' journey.

"I'm still an Arsenal fan, I watch most of our games and I lived a boyhood dream by winning an FA Cup final at Wembley for the club. [That] was the pinnacle. I supported Arsenal since I was six. I wish them well," he adds.

But the FA Cup under Arteta, who he regards as a "tactical genius in Pep Guardiola's mould", is the last trophy Arsenal have won.

"[Arteta] really studied how Pep took football to new heights as one of the best managers in the world," he says. "He really studied how to break down teams and be most effective in games.

"Arsenal are showing that at this point, not coming close enough to win the league but you can see they are making big improvements by going close two years in a row."

On his relationship with Arteta, the defender adds: "I wouldn't say there was anything special there. I had respect for him as a manager, I thought he was a tactical genius but it was an average player-manager relationship, not especially close."

Maitland-Niles also admits it is "frustrating" the club has not followed up that FA Cup success but gives his backing to Arteta, while adding star attacker Saka needs support.

"I think they now rely on him a bit too much and you can't expect so much from such a young player," he says.

"He hasn't even hit his prime yet. But I think he is the driving force of the team and they miss a bit of attacking threat when he is not playing.

"Bukayo has become one of the world's best wingers, very consistent, knows how to kill off a game and he can pick his moment in a genius way."

Attacker Ethan Nwaneri, 18, is having his breakthrough this season and could be one option to help Saka.

"Physically, he is absolutely incredible and there is no fear in the kid," continues Maitland-Niles.

"He is just going at people and trying to make things happen. You can see he is trying to become a leader very early in that team. He is trying to cement his place which is difficult as he plays in the same positions as [Martin] Odegaard and Saka.

"But he has got the ability to do so as well. He has the world at his feet and he just needs to take his chance."

Another landmark for Maitland-Niles was winning the Conference League under Mourinho during a successful six-month loan stint at Roma.

"He is a really funny guy," says Maitland-Niles. "The stories Jose gave us about his previous dressing rooms and how he has won cup finals and loads of different leagues - that is an experience you can take something from.

"There are a lot of players that would say they love him or hate him. But he is a great guy and what you see is what you get."

Maitland-Niles achieved European success in the Conference League for Jose Mourinho's Roma in 2022

'We need to aim for Champions League'

Maitland-Niles, who is becoming one of the leaders at Lyon, has warned Thursday's Europa League opponents Manchester United that "people don't realise how big Lyon are".

"We are a historically big club," he adds. "Considering where we were last season, it has been a great year but we need to be addicted to winning, push for more and aim for the Champions League."

Maitland-Niles also says Lyon will try to show Ruben Amorim's United side "respect but just not too much respect".

He adds: "They are not having the greatest season but have players like Bruno (Fernandes) and (Christian) Eriksen can run over you if you show too much respect.

"We have a great team, great manager and team spirit. We will not be scared, we'll give it our all and believe we can win."

Of course, returning to England for the second leg will also prove exciting.

He says: "As an Englishman, it will be nice to go home. Old Trafford is nothing short of what they call it, the Theatre of Dreams - it can be a dream for you but it can crush your dreams, too."