Ahead of Sunday’s high-stakes Premier League showdown between Arsenal and Manchester City, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has dismissed any suggestions of a rift with his former mentor and close friend, Pep Guardiola.
The two managers, who worked together at Manchester City before Arteta took charge of Arsenal in 2019, have been at the center of speculation about a strained relationship following a fiery 2-2 draw between the teams in September.
During that match, City players accused Arsenal of employing “dark arts” to disrupt their rhythm. The game saw Rodri suffer a serious knee injury, Leandro Trossard sent off for Arsenal, and a heated finale in which John Stones scored a stoppage-time equalizer for City. Erling Haaland further fueled tensions by throwing the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes during his celebration.
Arteta, who spent four years as Guardiola’s assistant at City, responded to the accusations by hinting that City were not innocent themselves, saying, “I have been there before, I was there for four years. I have all the information. So I know. Believe me.” Guardiola, in turn, expressed frustration with Arteta’s comments, urging him to “be more clear” about his insinuations.
Despite the drama, Arteta insists there is no personal animosity between him and Guardiola. Speaking to the media on Friday, Arteta clarified his earlier remarks, stating, “I was there for four years, so I know how competitive they are. They win and win again. That is what I meant. If there was a problem, we wouldn’t have been talking on the phone and messaging each other. If not, it wouldn’t happen.”
Guardiola also downplayed any feud earlier on Friday, describing his relationship with Arteta as “exceptional.” Arteta echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the rivalry between the two teams is purely professional. “Normal. Two teams trying to win. I don’t take anything personally that happens on the pitch. It’s been that way since I was a player. It is full of emotions. We just move on.”
Sunday’s match at the Emirates Stadium carries significant weight in the Premier League title race. Arsenal, currently second in the table, are six points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand. Meanwhile, fourth-placed Manchester City are looking to close the gap on the top three. Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six games across all competitions, but injuries to key players like Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka have raised concerns about their title ambitions.
Arteta confirmed that Arsenal are actively seeking to strengthen their squad before the transfer window closes on Monday, though he remained tight-lipped about specific targets, including reports linking the club with Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins. “I’m very confident with the work the club is doing and exploring every opportunity that can have an impact on the team,” Arteta said. “I don’t want to give any assurances. It doesn’t only depend on us, the possibilities are affected by three parties.”
As Arsenal and Manchester City prepare to renew their rivalry, the focus remains firmly on the pitch. Both managers are determined to secure a crucial victory in their quest for Premier League glory.
