Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta opens up on going head-to-head with Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola. Meanwhile, the Gunners will face Manchester City in the FA Cup on 27th January.
Currently, at the top of the League table, Arsenal will face Man City for the first time this season. While speaking at a pre-match press conference, Arteta spoke about his relationship with Pep Guardiola.
He said:
“I always hoped that would be the case one day and it’s happening this season. That’s not going to change any friendship, the moments that we have had, how important he is in my life, how important he is in my profession. We’re both willing to win and defend our clubs in any way and that’s always been the case.”
Moreover, he went on to speak if Friday’s FA Cup clash against Manchester City will help define Arsenal’s ongoing campaign. He said:
“It’ll define the season obviously. Because if we are able to win on Friday, then we will go to the next round and they won’t. If they beat us, then it will be the other way around. FA Cup is a competition that is very important to us, very attached to our club and history and will define a crucial moment, that is for sure.”
Arteta gives insight into the Premier League rivalry between Arsenal-Manchester City
Arteta when asked whether Arsenal is the favorite ahead of Manchester City in the Premier League title race, he responded:
“I don’t know. The Premier League brings you incredible challenges, the best coaches in the world and to be at that level, you have to immerse yourself, you have to find other ways to try to compete with them. And that is where opportunities come as well. And we are on that pathway… understanding that we have not done anything yet and there are still a lot of things to improve.”
The Gunners won their clash against Oxford United in their FA Cup third-round tie. Meanwhile, Manchester City defeated Chelsea 4-0 in front of their home crowd.
Both teams will further play against each other in the League games scheduled on February 15 and April 26.
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