[Getty Images]Pep Guardiola often speaks about players needing to go through tough experiences, even defeats, in order to go on and win the biggest of prizes.

Take the Champions League, for example, and the numerous seasons of hurt; from the late defeat to Tottenham, a heavy loss against Liverpool, a remarkable comeback from Real Madrid at the Bernabeu and Chelsea's win in the Porto final of 2021.

Manchester City's previous two matches against Arsenal were invaluable learning experiences for a club that is aiming to maintain their relentless winning trend and an educational period that has seen the team win silverware in the process.

But Sunday afternoon's 2-1 victory over the Gunners was the toughest test yet, not just of on-the-field quality and individual standards, but also of the squad's mental strength to overcome their main title rivals.

New faces and names without a Premier League medal to their name, or arguably experience of such high-stakes matches, stood up to the occasion and delivered. Perhaps none more so than Rayan Cherki, who continues to provide true footballing brilliance - in terms of technical quality, confidence, flair, goalscoring and goal-creating.

For this level of performance to come so early in the latest iteration of the City squad's development is a true testament to the first-team coaching staff and undoubtedly Guardiola.

Let's not forget this was up against an Arsenal side who have gone through the toughest of experiences in the Premier League by finishing second in successive campaigns. They've been there, experienced the hurt and they should have learned.

Whether City can truly push on now and win the Premier League title is an entirely different matter, with so much football still to play and some tough fixtures on the horizon. But Sunday was an exciting look at what this club has on its hands and a future set-up that remains a work in progress, despite the glory that could come in the immediate term.