Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has a long-standing relationship with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
The duo worked together when Mikel Arteta served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.
Arteta took up this role in 2016, shortly after bringing the curtain down on his playing career at Arsenal, having made 150 appearances for the North London club, across all competitions.
The Spaniard helped Guardiola to achieve great success with Manchester City, before being afforded the opportunity to return to the Emirates Stadium and take on his first ever full managerial role in December 2019.
Arteta has transformed Arsenal since his appointment as manager, making them genuine title contenders again and healing the division between the club and the fans.
In each of the last two seasons, the Gunners have managed to go toe-to-toe with the Cityzens in the title race, but ultimately came out second best one both occasions.
This time around, Arsenal will once again be eyeing up the title. Arteta has promised Arsenal fans that silverware is on the way, but in order to achieve that aim, they will have to stop Manchester City.
Arteta’s side will take on the reigning champions this afternoon, in a Premier League clash that could already have a bearing on the destiny of the title, despite coming so early in the campaign.
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Pep Guardiola reflects on lesson from Mikel Arteta
Arteta clearly learned a great deal from Guardiola in his time at Manchester City, but Guardiola has insisted that he took plenty from their working relationship too.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the former Barcelona boss recently revealed: “Mikel helped me a lot in the early stages, to know the Premier League, to evolve the team step by step, year by year. He had an incredible chance to go to the team of his heart, so he went there.”
Arteta is now aiming to leapfrog his former boss, and end Manchester City’s reign of dominance.
The challenge Arsenal face at Manchester City
The Gunners will have to be at their very best at the Etihad Stadium later today if they are to avoid defeat.
Manchester City have started the new season in ominously good form, and Arsenal will be without club captain Martin Odegaard due to injury.
Bukayo Saka has insisted that Arsenal will play to win, but Arteta will surely instruct his side to take a cautious approach to this match, and will be relying upon his impressive defensive contingent to soak up plenty of pressure.
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