Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has fired back on Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after weekend’s 2-2 draw between Manchester City and Arsenal, MySportDab reports.
Arteta nearly pulled off what would have been a magical win over his former boss at Etihad in Premier League matchday seven clash.
Norwegian forward Erling Haaland had gave City the lead after slotting home a pinpoint pass from Savinho.
Arsenal fought back gallantly to equalize through Riccardo Calafiori’s stunning solo strike from outside the box.
Before the break, Gabriel Magalhaes opened his goal account this season with the Gunners heading home inswinging corner-kick from Bukayo Saka to complete the turnaround for the Gunners.
Leandro Trossard picked up a controversial red card in dying minutes of the first half with Arteta remonstrating furiously on the touchline for the red card decision.
Playing 10 men for over 45 minutes, Arsenal nearly ran out with a 2-1 victory after a backs-to-the-wall second-half play but they were undone by substitute John Stones’ late equalizer.
Manchester City players such as Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland were disappointed with the outcome of the game. Speaking after the game, Silva accused Arsenal of using ‘dark arts,’ adding the London club cannot win the Premier League because of their low mentality.
Arteta did not take Silva’s accusations lightly. Responding to the Portuguese, he said;
‘‘I have been there (City) before. I was there for four years. I have all the information. So I know. Believe me.’’
And Mikel Arteta’s seemed to have not sit well with Pep Guardiola. Reacting to the Arsenal boss in his Newcastle United pre-match press conference, Pep Guardiola questioned the former assistant on what he means that he was at Manchester City and knew what was going on.
“Next time Mikel has to be more clear exactly what he means.
“We know exactly what happened here in those four years. Maybe it’s about the 115 charges, maybe he has information on that or maybe he has something I don’t know? Next time, with the good relation I have with him, he can answer exactly what he means when he says he was here,” he said.
Guardiola went on to add that if Arsenal want war, he is not afraid to go all out for it just the Gunners’ defender (Gabriel Magalhaes) said after the game
“So this is a war, we have here to provoke the opponent, to push them, and at the end, what can you do? You want a war?” he said, claiming to quote Gabriel Magalhaes.
The war of words between Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta was long envisaged after tempers flared between the two teams after the match.
Meanwhile, they will be hoping to return to winning ways this weekend after sharing spoils in the feisty clash.
