Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reaffirmed his admiration for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, despite last weekend’s tense top-of-the-table encounter between the two sides. The champions were forced to settle for a dramatic 2-2 draw after John Stones netted a stoppage-time equaliser, with Arsenal reduced to 10 men following Leandro Trossard’s red card just before half-time.
The match at the Etihad Stadium saw Arteta’s Arsenal, who have finished second to City in the Premier League for the past two seasons, employ tactics that frustrated Guardiola’s side. The Gunners engaged in time-wasting and committed several cynical fouls, sparking accusations from City players like John Stones and Bernardo Silva that Arsenal resorted to football’s “dark arts.”
However, despite the friction on the pitch, Arteta, who previously worked under Guardiola as his assistant at Manchester City, insisted that their personal relationship remains unaffected.
“I love him, I respect him, and I admire him, his team, and everything that he does,” Arteta said on Friday ahead of Arsenal’s match against Leicester. “This is a sport — one thing is our profession, and the other is our personal relationship.”
When asked if maintaining a friendship with a title rival was challenging, Arteta said: “It’s quite simple — don’t take it personally, it’s part of our job. The things that you really care about, make sure you handle them in the right way. That relationship, I really care about.”
Despite the contentious draw, Arsenal remain unbeaten and are currently fourth in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Manchester City after five matches. Arteta’s side will next face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, but the manager was unsure if goalkeeper David Raya, who picked up an injury during the City game, would be available for their upcoming league match against Leicester.