Pep Guardiola, the esteemed manager of Manchester City, always had faith in Mikel Arteta’s potential to excel at Arsenal, a bond that was forged during their time together at Manchester City. Arteta’s transition from player to assistant coach in 2016 further solidified their relationship. When Arteta took the reins as Arsenal’s manager in December 2019 following Unai Emery’s departure, Guardiola offered unwavering support and lauded Arteta’s tactical acumen.
Guardiola voiced his confidence, stating, “I was certain he would step into a managerial role when the opportunity arose, and this was his moment. His ideas have already made an impact on the team, with their positional play showing improvement. I firmly believe Arsenal will progress under his leadership.”
Fast forward four years, and Arteta has transformed Arsenal into a formidable contender in the Premier League, challenging Guardiola’s City for the top spot. Despite trailing City by five points last season, Arsenal now finds itself in a neck-and-neck race with City and Liverpool, separated by just one point. Guardiola even went as far as to suggest that Arteta’s Arsenal poses a greater threat than Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
“Last season, they were our main competitors, not Liverpool. Look at how they continue to perform,” Guardiola noted. “Liverpool often require the full 90 minutes to secure victories, whereas Arsenal can do it in just 25.”
As Arsenal gears up for a crucial Premier League showdown against Manchester City, young talent Bukayo Saka exudes confidence in their ability to emerge triumphant. Reflecting on their current position atop the league table and progress in the Champions League, Saka expressed optimism about their upcoming clash against City.
“We firmly believe we can defeat City,” Saka asserted. “With our current league lead and advancement to the Champions League quarter-finals, we head into the international break with momentum and confidence, poised to secure a positive result at the Etihad.”
Under Arteta’s guidance, Saka’s prediction could soon come to fruition, echoing Guardiola’s earlier endorsement of Arteta’s managerial prowess.
