Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes that Premier League leaders Arsenal are reaping the rewards of the patience shown towards Mikel Arteta during his early years in charge of the Gunners. Arteta served as Guardiola’s assistant at City for three and a half years before taking on his first senior managerial role at the Emirates in 2019. He achieved immediate success by winning the FA Cup in 2020, but struggled to break into the Premier League’s top four in his first three seasons. Currently, Arsenal is on track to end a 19-year wait for a league title, leading City by five points with a game in hand.
The two teams are set to meet for the first of three encounters in the coming months during the FA Cup fourth round on Friday. Guardiola expressed his confidence in Arteta’s coaching abilities, stating, “I had the feeling. We knew it when he was here.” He praised Arsenal for their support of Arteta during challenging times, emphasizing the importance of backing a coach and allowing them the time to develop. “At the end, you need time, you need investment, and the results are there. It is a challenge for us to challenge them,” he added.
Under Guardiola’s leadership, Manchester City has dominated English football, securing four Premier League titles and nine major trophies. However, in recent weeks, he has sought to reignite his players’ hunger for success. Guardiola has pointed to Arsenal’s determination during the first half of the season as an example for his team to emulate. “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,” he remarked regarding the upcoming cup clash.
Guardiola encouraged his players to reflect on their performances, stating, “When they are not happy for many reasons, the only way is to perform better.” He emphasized the importance of focusing on the future, saying, “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.”
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