Peter Crouch says he finds something so ‘strange’ about Mikel Arteta now

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Having seen Arsenal in action against Manchester City, Peter Crouch admitted he just can’t believe Mikel Arteta’s career path.

It’s always a poignant fixture when Arsenal face Man City, as Arteta comes up against his former teacher.

The two sides drew 1-1 on matchday five, with the Gunners salvaging a point through a 93rd-minute equaliser courtesy of Gabriel Martinelli.

Pep Guardiola urged Arteta to join Arsenal as manager in December 2019, but the Spaniard might be regretting his decision, given how the North Londoners have become genuine title contenders. 

• READ MORE: Pep Guardiola once promised to never do one thing in football, Mikel Arteta just made him do it vs Arsenal

Peter Crouch can’t believe Mikel Arteta was Pep Guardiola’s assistant

The topic of Arteta once being a student of Guardiola’s came up after the draw at the Emirates.

Peter Crouch discussed how Arteta’s career has changed in recent years, admitting that he now finds it difficult to imagine the Arsenal manager as City’s number two.

“He’s his own man now, Arteta,” the pundit said on The Peter Crouch Podcast.

“It feels weird that he was ever an assistant to Pep now. Yeah. I mean, it does feel a bit strange that now.”

Crouch shared that he finds it weird to consider the former dynamic Arteta and Guardiola upheld, with a lot changing since the Spaniard flew the nest.

Though Man City are now a rival of Arsenal, the club will forever hold a special place for Arteta, who won two Premier League titles alongside Guardiola during his time at the Etihad.

Guardiola thought Arteta could become Manchester City manager

Considering that Arteta only has a win rate of 26% against Guardiola, the Man City boss still firmly has the upper hand on his compatriot. 

That being said, Guardiola has always been an advocate of Arteta’s coaching qualities, once admitting that the Arsenal boss could’ve succeeded him at City. 

Speaking in a pre-match press conference in January 2023 ahead of Arsenal and Man City’s FA Cup Fourth Round clash, Guardiola said:

“I am pretty sure if I would leave before [Arteta], he would be here and he would be the best. But I extend the contract, I am sorry.”

Arteta had already joined Arsenal at that point, and Guardiola had extended with City, allowing the pair to continue their rivalry in the Premier League.