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Mikel Arteta delivers Pep Guardiola criticism response amid Arsenal and Man City war of words

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Mikel Arteta manager / head coach  of Arsenal shakes hands with Pep Guardiola manager of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Mikel Arteta has moved to clarify his comments about Manchester City after being called out by Pep Guardiola.

The Arsenal manager had said that he had "all the information" about City after spending four years at the club as an assistant when asked about comments from Manuel Akanji and Bernardo Silva criticising the Gunners approach in the second half of their 2-2 draw at the Etihad last Sunday. This prompted a tetchy response from Guardiola who insisted that his former protege would have to be more careful with his words in the future.

"Next time he has to be more clear exactly what does it mean," the former Barcelona boss said. "He said he was here four years and we know exactly what happened here, because it can be related in all the process now with 155 charges, maybe it's about that, he knows information about that maybe. Or maybe he had something like, I don't know, because really, next time I have to see more clearly exactly what happened.

"Next time, like a good relation I have with him, hopefully this question has been asked. He can answer exactly what does it mean when he said he was here and I know what's happening here, and instead of [speculation hanging] in the clouds to be more precise."

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Speaking after Arsenal’s dramatic 4-2 win over Leicester City on Saturday though, Arteta moved to cool the increasing tension between himself and his former boss by clarifying that he had been referring to City's will to win rather than anything else.

"I can repeat it very clear, I love Pep, I've admired him since I was 10-years-old," Arteta said. "I respect him profoundly, I am so grateful for everything he did for me and continues to do for me and I consider him a friend. I love and respect all of the staff there because I worked with them for four years and when I said that I know them, I meant I know how hard they work.

"I haven't seen a human being work as hard as Pep and the coaches and everybody in that football club is consistently winning and the reason they are there is because they continue to maintain that hunger. This is exactly what I've learned and what I mean so it cannot be anymore clear than that.

"If you want to, I can repeat it but if someone wants to damage the relationship that's not in my hands. But that feeling is profound, he knows it, the staff knows it because I still maintain with them today, with the board, with the ownership, with everyone. In sport there has to be a will to win, they have it and I have it.

"We have it for sure because we haven't won it but they have it even if they have won it more than anybody else here. We have to learn and it has to be inspiring for us and it is for me, this is what I mean. It's remarkable what they have achieved because they have that willing mentality, hopefully that is clear."

The Arsenal manager will now turn his attention to Tuesday's Champions League clash with PSG. His side sit level on points with City in the Premier League, but are behind the reigning champions on goal difference.