Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola know each other very well, with both managers having the same opinion on one bizarre topic.
The 2024/25 season hasn’t gone entirely to plan for either Arteta or Guardiola, with Arsenal and Manchester City all but out of the title race.
As Liverpool run away with a 13-point lead in the Premier League table, both the Gunners and the reigning champions are close to accepting that silverware must be found elsewhere.
While Arsenal remain in the Champions League, City have only the FA Cup to fight for, narrowly beating Plymouth Argyle to progress to the quarter-final.
Pep Guardiola spots difference in FA Cup ball after Mikel Arteta’s evaluation
The Champions League appears to be Arsenal’s only chance at silverware this term, putting pressure on the round-of-16 tie with PSV Eindhoven.
With the European clash coming up next, the Gunners were fortunate enough to have a break over the weekend due to the FA Cup action.
As mentioned, Man City were in action as they beat Plymouth Argyle, where Guardiola had some choice words after his side’s 3-1 win at the Etihad.
After the victory, Guardiola shared something he’s noticed about the FA Cup ball, and how it differs from other balls his players are accustomed to using.
“I don’t know how many chances or shots we had. Maybe not on target due to the ball. The ball is difficult to bring it where you want because sometimes this type of ball does whatever the ball wants.”
Guardiola’s revelation was quite remarkable given that Arteta mentioned the difference in the EFL Cup ball following Arsenal’s defeat to Newcastle United.
The Arsenal manager was slammed for simply answering a question that was taken out of context but, it now appears that his concerns were valid.
In light of Arteta’s verdict, the EFL released a statement regarding the match ball, with a simple sharing of his opinion turning into a media frenzy.
Arsenal’s chances of winning silverware this season
While Arteta’s comments were taken out of context, it’s refreshing to hear that the boss’ claims were not all that bizarre.
For the Spaniard, he’s almost certainly forgotten about the drama regarding the cup ball, with full focus on other competitions that Arsenal can triumph in.
| Competition | Chances |
| Premier League | 1.12% |
| Champions League | 16.8% |
While the Premier League title is out of reach for Arsenal, with the draw against Nottingham Forest lowering the Gunners’ chances of winning the league to just 1.12%, via Opta, there’s still hope in Europe.
At the conclusion of the league phase knockouts, Opta gave Arsenal a 16.8% chance of winning the Champions League, sporting the second-highest chance in the competition.
Having never won the ultimate prize in their history, Arsenal will be desperate to turn the season around by winning the Champions League, a dream that starts with the clash against PSV on Tuesday.
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