Advertisement

Pep Guardiola tips Arsenal to become ‘real title contenders’ but insists he did not inspire Mikel Arteta

<p>Old friends Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola lock horns once again this weekend</p> (Getty Images)

Old friends Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola lock horns once again this weekend

(Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola has tipped Arsenal to become genuine Premier League title challengers in the near future, though insists he did not inspire former assistant Mikel Arteta.

Dominant Manchester City travel to face the Gunners in north London on Sunday looking to keep alive a record-breaking winning streak that now stands at 17 matches across all competitions following the midweek win at Everton.

Such an extraordinary run of form has seen Guardiola’s side open up a 10-point gap over nearest challengers Manchester United at the Premier League summit.

Earlier on Friday, Mikel Arteta hailed former employers City as the best team in Europe and Arsenal take on a difficult challenge in the aftermath of a frustrating 1-1 Europa League last-32 first-leg draw against Benfica in Rome.

That tie followed a 4-2 win over Leeds - a result that saw the Gunners bounce back from a mini-blip in the top-flight that resulted in defeats to Aston Villa and Wolves.

Arteta had previously righted the ship post-Christmas after Arsenal’s worst start to a season for decades, with Guardiola pleased that his former protege was given the chance to turn things around as he praised the club’s attacking options ahead of a predicted title charge in the not-too-distant future.

“What the two months shows is that all managers need time,” Guardiola said.

“He (Arteta) is not an exception, but when I see the last two months every game Arsenal plays they are better than the opponent.

“Sometimes you lose games, you cannot control it. But they have been better than the opponent, in terms of controlling the game and creating more chances and conceding fewer.

“We need an incredible performance to play with the ball and run a lot in the right tempo to get the ball because they have an exceptional build-up in the final third.

“They have quality and incredible energy in (Emile) Smith Rowe, (Bukayo) Saka, (Pierre-Emerick) Aubameyang with the runs in behind, and they have the players with the quality in the middle to make the process quite well. Early in the future they will be a real contender to fight for the title.”

But Guardiola refused to take credit for Arteta’s coaching skills, adding: ““I didn’t inspire him. What he knows he knows for himself.

“I’m not in this case absolutely any influence. What he is doing, the credit is for him and his staff.

“He doesn’t need help. He’s more than well prepared than to get help from me.

“But of course he’s an important person of my life, everything he did for me in Manchester made me happy.”

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

Read More

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta heralds Manchester City as ‘Europe’s best team’ ahead of ‘exciting challenge’

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka showing signs of Raheem Sterling rise but Arteta faces Man City selection dilemma

Arsenal XI vs Man City: Confirmed early team news, predicted lineup and injury latest

Bukayo Saka: Arsenal can’t afford to put a foot wrong in Europa League last-32 second leg with Benfica

Man City XI vs Arsenal: Confirmed early team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League

Arsenal vs Manchester City: Prediction, TV channel, live stream, team news, time, h2h results, odds