“This is the perfect opportunity, just as I expected to ask him why he wants to move to Arsenal ” Pep Guardiola’s Mikel Arteta prediction is causing Man City an Arsenal problem

Pep Guardiola, the revered manager of Manchester City, always had faith in Mikel Arteta’s potential to excel at Arsenal. Their professional bond formed during their time together at Manchester City, where Arteta transitioned from player to assistant coach in 2016. When Arteta took over as Arsenal’s manager in December 2019 following Unai Emery’s departure, Guardiola offered his unwavering support and lauded Arteta’s tactical acumen.

“I was convinced he would be a manager when the opportunity comes, and this was the opportunity for him,” Guardiola expressed his confidence. “His ideas are already in the team, his positional play is getting better. I’m convinced Arsenal will get better.”

Fast forward four years, and Arteta has transformed Arsenal into a formidable contender in the Premier League, challenging Guardiola’s City for the top spot. Despite trailing City by five points last season, Arsenal now finds itself in a neck-and-neck race alongside City and Liverpool, separated by just one point. Guardiola even suggested that Arteta’s Arsenal poses a greater threat than Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

“Last season they were the biggest rivals, not Liverpool. And look how they are still playing,” Guardiola noted. “Liverpool need 90 minutes to win the games, sometimes more than 90 minutes to win the games. Arsenal only need 25 minutes to win games.”

As Arsenal gears up for a pivotal Premier League clash against Manchester City, young talent Bukayo Saka exudes confidence in their ability to triumph. Reflecting on their current standing atop the league table and progress in the Champions League, Saka voiced optimism about their upcoming match against City.

“We can [beat City],” Saka asserted. “Right now, we’re top of the league and we’re into the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and we’re going into the international break. So that gives us a lot of momentum, a lot of belief that we can go to the Etihad and get a good result going into these games.”

Under Arteta’s guidance, Saka’s prediction could soon become a reality, mirroring Guardiola’s earlier endorsement of Arteta’s managerial prowess.