Mikel Arteta reveals what Pep Guardiola told him after Arsenal’s win over Man City
Arsenal secured a crucial win over title rivals Manchester City earlier this month, with Gabriel Martinelli’s late goal securing all three points for the north Londoners at the Emirates. It was a significant result for Arsenal, who narrowly missed out on last season’s Premier League title to City, as they look to topple Pep Guardiola’s side this term.
Mikel Arteta has argued that Arsenal’s win over City will ‘define the momentum of the season’ as the Gunners attempt to land their first top-flight trophy since 2004.
Arteta: ‘Those games define the momentum of the season’
‘Those games define the momentum of the season and, going into an international break, that momentum is really important,’ Arteta told Arsenal’s website.
‘We played at home, we beat them in the Community Shield and we wanted to see if we had the consistency and the level to do it again against the best team in the world. We performed to a very high level individually and collectively and obviously it was a very special day for everyone.’
What did Guardiola tell Arteta after the game?
Arteta, speaking on the Men in Blazers podcast, has also revealed what City boss Guardiola hold him about Arsenal following the recent clash at the Emirates.
‘I talked with him [Guardiola] after the game,’ Arteta said. ‘It’s always like this, it’s very tense, it’s very emotional, a lot is going on in that moment, but after that, the relationship remains intact.
‘I lost much more than I won against him but, to be fair, in the last two games when we won the Community Shield and now in the league, the feeling is totally different. [He said] ‘Congratulations, you guys are a terrific team’.’
Arsenal’s transfer plans for January
Arsenal are expected to be active in the January transfer window as they look to bolster their squad ahead of a potential title challenge. However, reports suggest that the Gunners will only have a small transfer budget for January and will not do ‘significant business’. Former Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre has urged his former club to sign Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins instead of their No.1 transfer target.
Arsenal’s win over Manchester City has certainly given them a huge boost in their pursuit of the Premier League title this season. With Mikel Arteta’s side showing they can compete with the best teams in England, they will be hoping to carry this momentum into the second half of the season.