Arteta said he had ‘all the information’ about City 18 months ago
Guardiola not worried by Arsenal’s tactics for Carabao Cup
Pep Guardiola has insisted relations with Mikel Arteta are cordial despite the friction sparked between the pair after Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal last season.
Following the highly eventful game at the Etihad Stadium in September 2024, Guardiola was left unhappy with his former assistant stating he had “all the information” about his former club, having worked there from 2016 to 2019. Arteta’s comment seemed to hint that City used supposed dark arts as he spoke out after John Stones and Bernardo Silva criticised Arsenal’s use of such tactics during the game, the former saying of their approach: “You can call it clever, or dirty, whichever way you want to put it.”
Before City face Arsenal in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final, Guardiola was asked if he felt able to have dinner with Arteta. “No, I don’t have time to go to London, and I think he hasn’t got time to come to Manchester,” he said. “The relationship is completely different to when we were here five or six hours a day. All the managers have a lot of business to do, but if you want to try with your question to create some conflict with Mikel or myself or Arsenal, I am old enough to [see you trying to] do that.”
