Many believe the Manchester City vs. Arsenal era has officially begun after Pep Guardiola declared “war” on their Premier League rivals in a fiery press conference.
In the aftermath of last weekend’s 2-2 draw between the two clubs, John Stones and Bernardo Silva accused Arsenal of using “dirty” tactics, as well as time-wasting.
In fact, Silva said only one team came to play football at the Etihad, whilst the other “came to play to the limits of what was possible to do and allowed by the referee.”
When asked for his response to that criticism earlier this week, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made some interesting comments.
“No comment. I have been there before. I was there for four years,” he said. “I have all the information. So I know. Believe me.”
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Ahead of their Premier League clash against Newcastle on Saturday, City manager Pep Guardiola was asked for his response to Arteta’s comments – and things got heated.
“Next time, Mikel has to be clear exactly what he means by he’s been here four years and he knows exactly what’s happen here,” Guardiola said.
“It can be related to all the processes now, the charges, maybe it’s about that, the information about that.
“I have a good relation with him. Hopefully he can say exactly what he means when he says he’s here and he knows what happens here.”
Guardiola wasn’t done there and touched on Gabriel’s comments after Erling Haaland threw a ball at his head following Stones’ late equaliser.
“Gabriel said it perfectly after the match, so this is a war, we are here to provoke the opponent, to push them,” he added.
“At the end what can you do? OK, you provoke me – I’m there. You want a war? Now we war. “What do I have to do? And after, the emotions are the emotions.
“I’m pretty sure he’s (Haaland) not proud, but listen – the type of challenge that Arsenal challenges, I understand it.”
Ian Wright was highly critical of Erling Haaland for what he did to Gabriel in stoppage time, and even labelled the striker a ‘coward’.
“I’ve got to get something out there that’s bothering me cause obviously the Trossard sending off of course in the moment you’re frustrated,” he said on Instagram.
“I’m thinking yes we’ve got them and then we get sent off for something that let’s face it, is f***king foolishness what they’re getting sent off for now. You shouldn’t be getting sent off for that. But what really boiled me up properly was Haaland’s coward’s move.”
Wright added: “I saw it this morning properly, throwing the ball at Gabby’s head when he’s not looking, when his back is turned to him that’s a real coward’s move.
“Gabby would look you in the eye, I’m looking at this as a really good defender against a really good striker. I love watching them two but then you’re doing a cowardly move like that. That’s what bothered me more than anything else.”