Mikel Arteta has taken steps to calm the rising tensions between himself and Pep Guardiola, affirming his deep respect and affection for his Manchester City counterpart. The Arsenal manager was prompted by Guardiola to clarify remarks made on Tuesday, following the fallout from last Sunday's 2-2 draw between their teams at the Etihad Stadium. Arteta had addressed criticism from several City players regarding his defensive tactics in the match, stating that as a former City coach, he possessed 'all the information so I know, believe me.' This cryptic comment sparked numerous theories and provoked Guardiola.
After Arsenal's 4-2 victory over Leicester, Arteta reiterated: 'I can say it very clearly. I love Pep, I've admired him since I was 10 years old. I respect him profoundly. I am deeply grateful for everything he has done and continues to do for me, and I consider him a friend. I hold immense respect for all the staff at City because I worked with them for four years, and when I said I know them, I meant I know how hard they work.'
'I haven't seen anyone work as hard as Pep and the coaches, and for everyone at that football club to consistently win... the reason they are there is because they maintain that hunger. This is exactly what I've learned and what I mean, so it cannot be any clearer than that.'
'If someone wants to damage the relationship, that's not in my hands, but that feeling is profound. He knows it and the staff at City know it because I still maintain contact with them today... with the board, with the ownership, with everyone. It's almost to create something...'
'For me, sport has to be about a will to win. They have it and I have it. We have it for sure because we haven't won it, but they have it even if they have won it more than anyone else here. We have to learn and it has to be inspiring for us and it is for me. This is what I mean when I said I've been there at City. It's remarkable what they have achieved because they have that winning mentality. Hopefully, that is clear.'
