After Arsenal’s stunning start in the 22/23 Premier League season, Pep Guardiola’s past comments on Mikel Arteta have resurfaced once again.
Back in February of 2021, Arteta was under immense pressure as his Arsenal side were faltering in front of our eyes.
The Gunners found themselves in the bottom half of the table, and there were speculations that Arteta could be facing the axe, with Arsenal fans piling the pressure on the Spaniard too.
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After a 1-0 defeat by Manchester City at the Emirates stadium, the pressure intensified for Arteta.
However, City boss Guardiola leaped to the Arsenal manager’s defence as he praised his former assistant’s qualities.
Guardiola said after that match: “Mikel [Arteta] knows everything. He’s so good. It’s not because he’s my friend. I know how he lives, I know what he plans, I know how he works. He’s so clever.
“I learn a lot from watching his teams and today I learned something that I can use in the future. He knows everything about football.”
Now, Guardiola is being proved right as Arteta has made a flying start to the new season.
After bringing in Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Guardiola’s City, the pair has lifted Arsenal’s spirits.
Arsenal have looked convincing so far as they are the only team with a 100 per cent record in the Premier League after winning their first five games.
Next up for Arteta is a real test against Manchester United, who are also in good form as they have won their last three games.
In his pre match press conference, the Arsenal manager spoke about United’s form.
Arteta said: “When you look at the squad that they have, the players that they have signed the amount of money they have spent in the market, it is no surprise - they are going to win a lot of football matches.
“The history of Manchester United tells you this is going to happen. They are a big rival, we know that and we are going to compete with them.”
Arteta was then quizzed on what it would mean to win at Old Trafford and preserve their unbeaten start to the season.
The Spaniard said: “It’s not something new. We’ve done it, we have to do it again and we have to believe from today, yesterday and straight after the game that we are capable of going there and playing how we want in the match.”
Can Arsenal win the Premier League this season? Only time will tell.
Topics: Manchester City, Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola
Marcus Chan