Arteta Has the Last Laugh as "War" Rages On with Guardiola
We’re just one week away from the international break and the Premier League is heating up, with Arsenal vs Manchester City being the top storyline. The latest development in their "war" has sparked a fiery debate, leaving fans and pundits alike at the edge of their seats.
The Latest Drama
In his post-Leicester press conference, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta responded to Pep Guardiola’s explosive comments earlier in the week. And boy, did he stir the pot! After Sunday’s 2-2 draw at the Etihad, Guardiola slammed Arteta’s tactics, questioning whether Arsenal came to play football or not. Bernardo Silva echoed those sentiments, claiming only one team tried to play football.
In his response, Arteta kept it brief and clever, saying "No comment. I have been there before. I was there for four years – I have all the information. So I know. Believe me." That’s quite a statement, especially from someone who has first-hand experience of playing under Guardiola at City.
The Spanish Maestro Strikes Back
Guardiola, however, wasn’t impressed with Arteta’s cryptic reply. In his own press conference, he shot back, "Next time, Mikel has to be clear exactly what he means by ‘he’s been here four years and he knows exactly what happens here.’ I have a good relation with him. Hopefully he can exactly what he means when he says he’s here and he knows what happens here."
The back-and-forth continued after the Gunners defeated Leicester, with Arteta again opening up about his relationship with Guardiola. And he didn’t mince his words, saying, "When I say I know stuff about Man City, I meant I know how hard they work. This is what I mean. I can repeat it very clear – I love Pep, I admire Pep, I respect him so fondly for everything he does for me. I consider him a friend."
The Verdict
Well, it’s clear one thing – the "war" between Arteta and Guardiola is far from over. But amidst the drama, one thing that stands out is the mutual respect between the two. Make no mistake, this rivalry is going to make this season’s Premier League all the more intriguing.
Keep up with all the drama and action on 90min.com, where you can find expert analysis and opinion pieces like this. Follow us on all social media platforms for more updates, and join the conversation using the hashtag #GunnersVsCity. Will this rivalry reach new heights? Only time will tell.