Arsenal’s ties with Manchester City have grown closer in recent years, whether that’s through managers, players or rivalries on the pitch.
One obvious link was in Mikel Arteta joining the Gunners from Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff to become the head coach – before being promoted to manager.
Then followed the signings of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from City back in 2022 to help bolster their ranks.
From that point on, Arsenal have continued to battle with Man City as their nearest rivals in the race for the Premier League title.
While it now seems obvious that the two teams are interlinked, Guardiola has previously mentioned the moment he realised Arteta would move to the Emirates Stadium.
What Pep Guardiola spotted from Mikel Arteta’s time at Man City
While it came as a bit of a shock when Arteta swapped Man City for Arsenal, it’s a moment that Guardiola could see coming.
Speaking back in 2023, the City boss said: “I said many times to my players and staff. I had many assistant coaches and I said I don’t want anyone who doesn’t agree with me. We felt if one team could offer him to be the manager he would leave.
“It could happen one or two years before, but it didn’t happen. I am not a guy to say no you have to stay with me. Everyone has dreams.
“I know he [Arteta] went to his club [Arsenal], the team he dreams of. He’s a supporter, for the fact he played there, he was a captain there. He loves the club.
“I remember when we were together here when we scored goals he jumped a lot and celebrated except one team.
“One team every time we scored a goal, I jumped, look back, and he was sitting there. It was Arsenal. It was that moment I said that guy likes Arsenal.
“Like me, training here or Barcelona if I’m training as assistant and Barcelona call me, I will go. My club. I’m not a person to say stay here and sign a contract. People have to fly when he believes is the best.”
It truly does show that Arteta is Arsenal through and through, even if he wasn’t at the club all those years ago.
Mikel Arteta’s managerial record against Pep Guardiola
Arteta has faced off against Guardiola 12 times in his managerial career so far – the second-most of any manager behind Jurgen Klopp with 14.
His old friend has gotten the better of him so far, with Arsenal winning just three of those head-to-heads, with one draw and eight defeats to Man City.
With the 13th face-off coming between the two managers early in the 2024/25 campaign, there will be hopes that the Gunners can register an early win to gain the upper hand in the title race.
There’s still a long way to go in the season though, regardless of what the outcome of that match is.
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