Arsenal Vs Man City: Pep Guardiola Denies There Is A Rail With Mikel Arteta

Pep Guardiola denied the relationship with Mikel Arteta ahead of Arsenal vs Man City (Instagram/@mancity).

JAKARTA - Pep Guardiola denied any rift in his relationship with Mikel Arteta despite a number of painful meetings between Manchester City and Arsenal.

Guardiola and Arteta teamed up at the Etihad Stadium for three and a half years before Arteta took over Arsenal in 2019.

The two teams have faced each other in the Premier League in the last two seasons. After a 2-2 draw at Etihad in September 2024, the relationship between the two bosses looked tense.

Arteta had stated that he had all the information about the use of "black science" by Manchester City.

"It's amazing with him and his family. We don't have much to do because we have business, but the respect we have is always there," Guardiola said when asked about his relationship with Arteta.

Manchester City and Arsenal will face each other at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, February 2, 2025.

The trip to Arsenal started a tough February for The Citizens, who will also face matches against Newcastle, Liverpool and Tottenham, plus two Champions League games against Real Madrid, before the end of the month.

"We started in Paris and then Chelsea. So, we've been in a tough game."

"We've been facing an incredible fixture like this over the years."

"So, that's not a problem. Real Madrid is very difficult. We know that. It's difficult to play against Real Madrid and the problem is in the middle of a match against Newcastle," Guardiola said at a press conference on Friday, January 31, 2025.

Meanwhile, there are allegations that Rodri - who was injured against Arsenal in September 2024 - was included in the Champions League squad for the second half of the season.

The midfielder returned to Manchester after undergoing the first part of his recovery in Madrid.

Guardiola said the 28-year-old was making progress, but he had warned about the risk of returning too early.

"The most important thing for him is to recover well. He's not a teenager, but he still has years to play."

"It will happen if he recovers well. Returning to play for a few weeks and then experiencing setbacks for the following season is not a smart thing."

"The body is the body. Recovery takes time alone, but it's going very well and step by step we'll see," said Guardiola.