Mikel Arteta explains cryptic Man City comments after Pep Guardiola demands clarity

Mikel Arteta has clarified cryptic comments he made about Manchester City earlier this week and stressed his admiration for Pep Guardiola.

During the fallout from Arsenal’s dramatic 2-2 draw with their Premier League title rivals last weekend, Arteta had said, “I was there for four years, I have all the information”, when discussing his side’s alleged use of the ‘dark arts’ at the Etihad Stadium.

The comments from Arteta on Tuesday prompted Guardiola to question what exactly his friend and former assistant Arteta meant and on Friday he publicly urged him to clarify.

"Next time he has to be more clear exactly what does he mean,” Guardiola said. “He said he was here four years and we know exactly what happened here. It can be related in all the process now with 115 charges, maybe it’s about that.

“He can answer exactly what does it mean when he said he was here and I know what’s happening here, and instead of being in the clouds there (points upward) to be more precise.”

Arteta has now responded to Guardiola’s request and been quick to ease any tension between the pair.

“I can repeat it very clear, I love Pep, I’ve admired him since I was 10 years old,” said Arteta on Saturday, after Arsenal’s thrilling late 4-2 home win over Leicester in the top-flight which came after City dropped points again at Newcastle.

“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. 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.”