Arteta worked as Guardiola’s assistant at City for three-and-a-half years before taking his first senior managerial role at the Emirates in 2019. The Spaniard had immediate success in winning the 2020 FA Cup, but failed to break into the Premier League’s top four in any of his first three seasons.
Now Arsenal are well on course to end a 19-year wait to win a league title as they lead City by five points and have a game in hand on Guardiola’s men.
The two sides face off for the first of three meetings in the coming months in the FA Cup fourth round today.
“I had the feeling. We knew it when he was here,” said Guardiola on Arteta’s coaching ability. The biggest compliment for Arsenal as well, is for backing him in the bad moments and trusting him, and keeping him and relying on him. At the end, you need time, you need investment and the results are there. It is a challenge for us to challenge them.”
During Guardiola’s reign in Manchester, City have dominated English football, winning four Premier League titles among nine major trophies. But he has tried to light a fire under his players in recent weeks to revive the hunger that has brought so much success.
Guardiola has even used Arsenal’s desire during the first half of the season as the example for his side to match. “A team with 50 points in one leg (half of the season) is the best. We have to prove how far away or how close we are,” added Guardiola on today’s cup clash.
“I encourage them to look themselves. When they are not happy for many reasons, the only way is to perform better. Think in the past is the past. What happened in the past is the past. We get the salary for what we will do in the future. Extend the contract, what we’re going to do in the future. The past is done.”
Arsenal are riding high after victories over Tottenham and Manchester United in the league, while City stayed in touch after responding to a blast from Pep Guardiola by beating Tottenham and Wolves. It would be a major statement of intent from Arsenal if they are able to put Guardiola in another grumpy mood with a victory at the Etihad Stadium.
Jurgen Klopp said he “couldn’t remember a worse game” than Liverpool’s woeful 3-0 defeat at Brighton, a performance so wretched that Jordan Henderson labelled it a “really low point” in an already traumatic season for the Reds.
It is safe to say Liverpool’s trip to the Amex Stadium on January 14 left some painful scars on Klopp and company. But the FA Cup offers them an unexpected chance to erase those bitter memories and get their campaign back on track.
Liverpool return to Brighton languishing ninth in the Premier League, 10 points adrift of the top four. It is a remarkable fall from grace after they came within a whisker of winning an unprecedented quadruple last season.
Fixtures
Today: Manchester City v Arsenal (2000 GMT)Tomorrow (1500 GMT unless stated): Accrington v Leeds (1230), Walsall v Leicester (1230), Blackburn v Birmingham, Bristol City v West Brom, Fulham v Sunderland, Ipswich v Burnley, Luton v Grimsby, Sheffield Wednesday v Fleetwood, Southampton v Blackpool, Preston v Tottenham (1800) Manchester United v Reading (2000)
Sunday: Brighton v Liverpool (1330), Stoke v Stevenage (1400), Wrexham v Sheffield United (1630)
Monday: Derby v West Ham (1945)
