Mikel Arteta reveals what Pep Guardiola said to him about joining Arsenal

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There are no two coaches in the Premier League who know each other better than Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.

Arteta spent over three years as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, overseeing City’s win of two Premier League titles. 

After learning from the best, the Spaniard spread his wings to become Arsenal manager, arriving at a difficult time after Unai Emery’s dismissal. 

Arteta’s first starting XI at Arsenal paints the picture of how much progress the boss has achieved since his arrival, an appointment that had been in the works for a long time. 

• READ MORE: Mikel Arteta has now done yet another thing that has proven Arsenal fans wrong after initial pushback

How Pep Guardiola reacted to Mikel Arteta joining Arsenal 

Arteta joined Arsenal in December 2019 after spending time as Guardiola’s number two. 

Speaking to Ally McCoist for TNT Sports, the former Arsenal midfielder admitted that his move almost happened two years prior.

“Arsenal came in and they were looking at all the candidates and meetings,” Arteta said before detailing a conversation he had with Guardiola at the time.

“I said ‘Pep, listen, they’re calling me, I haven’t done anything, it’s my second year with you here, what do I do?’.” 

Arteta never joined Arsenal that year as Emery was appointed, but that didn’t stop Guardiola from showing support for his colleague’s coaching journey.

“He said, ‘If you don’t go to Arsenal, I’ll kick your ass. You have to go because you are ready. I said, ‘Really?’, he said, ‘You have to go’.”

It’s fascinating to hear Arteta’s account of the years leading up to his appointment at Arsenal, revealing just how eager Guardiola was to see his compatriot spread his wings.

Arteta’s record against Guardiola

As years passed and Arteta’s Arsenal grew strong, Guardiola might’ve wondered what he’d created by prompting his former right-hand man to join a rival.

Arsenal challenged City in two Premier League title races in 2022/23 and 2023/24, missing out on top spot by only two points in the latter year. 

Though the power shift has changed over the recent year, Guardiola is still well in control of the rivalry, with Arteta only winning four of a possible 14 games against his compatriot over the years. 

An aggregate scoreline of 26-14 in City’s favour is something Arsenal will be eager to change very soon, with the two sides set to meet on matchday five.