Fans are convinced Pep Guardiola 'created' Mikel Arteta to make the Premier League title race exciting

Premier League fans believe Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola 'created' Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to make the title race more exciting.

City went top of the table on Saturday following a 4-0 demolition of Southampton. The Gunners then returned to the summit on Sunday with a 3-2 victory over Liverpool.

Arteta is assembling a quality squad at the Emirates Stadium and their current form is remarkable, given their fifth-placed finish last season.

Supporters have developed a theory on social media. The Spaniard previously worked as City assistant manager under Guardiola between 2016 and 2019.

He was given Guardiola's blessing to take the Arsenal job, who he played for between 2011 and 2016.

During Arteta's time at Arsenal, City won two Premier League titles. Their only challenge came from Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp's side appear to have fallen away this term.

Couple that with the fact Arsenal signed Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus from City this summer, everyone's joking their rise is all by design.

One person commented: "Guardiola dominated the league so much that he created a coach and sold him his players to challenge him for the Premier League title."

Another tweeted: "Bro created a monster made to destroy him to challenge himself. He’s Batman level."

Someone put: "Pep's created his own doomsday you couldn't make it up."

While a fourth added: "What happens when this ends up coming true?"

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Guardiola speaks fondly of Arteta's tactical mind, even calling him up in hours of need.

The 51-year-old contacted Arteta when he was still an Arsenal player ahead of a Barcelona game with Chelsea in 2012.

An extract from 'Pep’s City: The Making of a Superteam' highlights the duo's working relationship.

The book, written by Lu Martín and Pol Ballus, reads: "Arteta and Guardiola always kept in touch, and Arteta lived in the same neighbourhood as Pep's brother, Pere, when he was based in London.

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"When Barca drew Chelsea in the Champions League (in 2012), Pep picked up the phone to pick his old friend's brain about their upcoming opponent.

"Impressed by Arteta's critical analysis, Pep made a mental note to seek his advice more often."

City and Arsenal are yet to face off in this campaign, with their original fixture last month postponed.

Whenever it's rearranged, it promises to be a fascinating tactical battle between two evenly-matched teams coached by two close friends.