Pep Guardiola has invited Mikel Arteta to explain his comment about being at Manchester City for four years and therefore knowing what happens at the club.
The fall-out from Sunday’s ill-tempered 2-2 draw between City and Arsenal has continued throughout the week, with Arteta asked on Wednesday for his thoughts on several of Guardiola’s players criticising the north London side’s approach.
Having replied, “I have been there before. I was there for four years,” Arteta was asked what he meant, to which he added: “I have all the information. So I know. Believe me.”
This was put to Guardiola on Friday and, after some confusion over the context, he said: “Next time, Mikel has to be more clear exactly what does he mean.
“He said he was here four years and we know exactly what happened here. It can be related in all the process now with 115 charges, maybe it’s about that, he knows information about that maybe, or maybe he had something like… I don’t know.
“Next time, as I have a good relationship with him, hopefully, this question has been asked. He can answer exactly what does he mean when he said he was here and he knows what’s happening here. Instead of being in the clouds, (he can) be more precise.”
Arteta joined Guardiola’s backroom team in July 2016 before taking charge of Arsenal in December 2019 (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
Guardiola was also asked about Erling Haaland’s conduct during Sunday’s game, where the Norwegian striker threw the ball at Gabriel’s header following City’s equaliser and told Arteta to be “humble” after the final whistle, having relished the physical battle during the 90 minutes.
“I would say that sometimes the emotions are there,” he said. “Gabriel said it perfectly after the match, ‘This is a war, we have here to provoke the opponent, to push them,’ and at the end, what can you do?
“We have to be, okay, ‘You provoke me, okay, I’m there. You want a war? Now we war.’ So, what do I have to do? I’m pretty sure he (Haaland) is not proud, but listen — the type of challenge that Arsenal challenges, I understand it.”
City return to action against Newcastle United on Saturday, while Arsenal take on Leicester City.
(Top photo: Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)
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