Mikel Arteta responds to Pep Guardiola as Man City boss ‘declares war’ on Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has responded to Pep Guardiola after the Manchester City boss gave a fiery press conference about Arsenal.

The two sides drew 2-2 at the Etihad Stadium last Sunday, with the match packed full of controversial moments.

Arsenal’s tactics came under the microscope, with the Gunners criticised by some for their approach after they were reduced to 10 players following Leandro Trossard’s sending off.

City midfielder Bernardo Silva claimed after the match that only one team had come to the Etihad Stadium to play football, despite City going 2-1 down to the Gunners at half-time.

When asked to respond to those comments in his pre-Leicester press conference on Friday, Arteta said: “No comment. I have been there before.

“I was there for four years – I have all the information. So I know. Believe me.”

Guardiola, though, wasn’t impressed with that statement, and said in his own press conference before City’s 1-1 draw at Newcastle: “Next time, Mikel has to be clear exactly what he means by, he’s been here four years and he knows exactly what happens here.

“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 exactly what he means when he says he’s here and he knows what happens here.”

The back-and-forth continued after Arsenal defeated Leicester 4-2 at the Emirates Stadium, with Arteta again offered a right of reply.

And he said: “When I say I know stuff about Man City, I meant I know how hard they work. This is what I mean.

“I can repeat it very clear – I love Pep, I admire Pep, I respect him so fondly for everything he does for me. I consider him a friend.”