Last week’s clash between Manchester City and Arsenal left its mark. Maybe there will even be a before and after September 22. The draw (2-2) conceded at home with eleven against ten had already irritated the Cityzens quite a bit. Despite this point snatched with the equalizer in the final seconds of John Stones, they had not digested the mentality of the Gunners, described as small arms. Mikel Arteta’s men kept breaking the rhythm, simulating small injuries or cramps, which had the gift of annoying. This “bad football”, the Arsenal coach played it at a press conference.
For his first media outing after the match, he added fuel to the fire by ensuring that he had learned to play like that during his time at Manchester City. “I’ve been there before (City). I stayed there four years. I have all the information. So I know. Believe me.» This last statement put Pep Guardiola in a rage. According to him, his colleague’s comments must be more transparent. He takes this as a defiance at a time when Manchester City is in the crosshairs of justice for having violated the rules of English financial fair play.
Guardiola accuses Arteta
“Next time, Mikel needs to be clearer because what does that mean? He said he’s been here four years and, “We know exactly what happened here.” Because this can be linked to the whole trial currently underway now with 155 (130, editor’s note) counts. Maybe it’s about this. Maybe he has information… I don’t know, because really, I need to see more clearly what happened.” assures the Skyblues coach, accusing his former assistant of deliberately leaving doubt. “Instead of being vague, let it be more specific.»
As if last week’s post-match hadn’t already been tense, it was necessary to add a layer of tension on both sides. The two Spaniards are however friends and will remain so, says Guardiola, who did not raise the subject of the day with his counterpart. “We talked via text after the game and that was it. (…) I love him, I respect him, I admire him and I admire his team and everything he does. It’s sport. One thing is our profession, another is our personal relationship.» The reunion still promises to be tense, especially between the two teams, the two favorites for the Premier League title.
