Arteta insists he still ‘loves’ Guardiola despite fiery clash

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has sensationally declared his enduring “love” for Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, despite last weekend’s explosive top-of-the-table showdown.

The two Premier League giants clashed in a fierce battle at the Etihad Stadium, where tensions flared and the drama peaked with a nail-biting 2-2 draw—thanks to a last-gasp equalizer by City’s John Stones in stoppage time.

The match, already brimming with intensity, took a chaotic turn when Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard was controversially sent off just before half-time, leaving Arteta’s side to fend off a relentless City with only 10 men. Despite City’s overwhelming possession, they struggled to break down the Gunners, who resorted to what some called “football’s dark arts” with time-wasting tactics and cynical fouls. Stones and City teammate Bernardo Silva were quick to accuse Arsenal of playing dirty.

But the real shock came when Arteta, who spent years as Guardiola’s trusted assistant at City, insisted that the heated competition wouldn’t tarnish his deep personal bond with the City boss. Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s next game against Leicester, Arteta confessed, “I love him, I respect him, and I admire everything he does. Our professional rivalry won’t change that.”

Arteta made it clear that the tension on the field won’t spill over into his personal relationship with Guardiola, even as their title rivalry intensifies. “If my relationship with him had to be damaged because we play against each other, or because we draw or lose, then I wouldn’t talk to him anymore,” he added, brushing aside any notions of a rift between the two Spaniards.

When pressed on whether it’s difficult to maintain friendships with rivals during such high-stakes clashes, Arteta was unapologetic. “It’s simple—don’t take it personally. It’s part of our job. The things you care about, like relationships, you handle them properly.”

Despite the heated battle on the pitch, Arteta’s Arsenal remains unbeaten in the Premier League and is sitting fourth in the table, just two points behind Guardiola’s City. With the Gunners set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League next week, Arteta has more battles ahead, though he’s uncertain whether goalkeeper David Raya, injured during the City match, will be fit to face Leicester.

“We’ll have to wait 24 hours to see if he’s good or not,” Arteta revealed. The uncertainty only adds to the intrigue, as Arsenal fans brace for another chapter in this gripping Premier League saga.

For now, Arteta’s message is clear: the battle for Premier League supremacy may be fierce, but his affection for Guardiola remains untouched by the chaos.