Mikel Arteta is very familiar with Manchester City and the way they do things.
Before being appointed as Arsenal’s manager back in December 2019, the Spaniard spent over three years as Pep Guardiola’s assistant manager at the Etihad Stadium.
Arteta went from winning trophies with City to facing off against the Blues as a manager, coming up against the Manchester club on 13 occasions, eight of which Arsenal have lost.
With a third of the season gone, the Gunners boss and former City assistant coach has shared his thoughts on something unusual he’s seen from his former employers in recent weeks.
Josep 'Pep' Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, speaks with his players during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham...
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Mikel Arteta reacts to Man City’s poor form
When asked in his recent press conference ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League match against West Ham United what he thinks about City’s poor run of form, Arteta gave this honest response.
He said: “What I’ve made of it is what they’ve done for nine years. I think that’s what people have to talk about – how difficult it is what they’ve done for nine years consistently.
MORE MAN CITY STORIES
“A bump, everybody has a bump. For them, it’s very strange because in nine years they never had it. That tells you as well the level and environment that we’re in, that everything has to go almost perfect.
“The performance has to be perfect, the ability of your squad has to be perfect, things have to go your way. The level of the opposition is different and it’s so hard to win.”
Arne Slot backed Guardiola to find a solution for City’s form
After losing five matches on the bounce, City blew a 3-0 lead in their recent Champions League outing against Feyenoord to draw 3-3 having conceded three goals in 14 minutes during the final 20 minutes of the game.
Arteta isn’t the only top-flight manager to share his thoughts on the Citizens’ recent activities on the pitch, as Arne Slot gave his verdict on City’s form ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash at Anfield.
He said: “Everyone looks at their results but if you face them and that is what we do, you analyse it. At Brighton could have scored 2 or 3 and got beat, same v Spurs. Against Feyenoord, that has not happened many times, they dominated.
“They are still a very good team and one of the reasons why Pep is the best in the world, he always comes up with solutions for his problems.
“One might be Rodri is out now but he will come up with a solution, hopefully, it is after Sunday.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Pep comes up with another brilliant idea. He started inverted full-backs and centre-backs as a number six.
“So I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes up with something to make his team even stronger, so that is why he inspires so many. When he did it we thought he was crazy and then we tried it as it was a brilliant idea.
“Let’s wait and see. If anyone can come up with something new it’s him.”
With Guardiola having enough knowledge and experience to guide his side to Premier League titles, everyone at the Manchester club should have belief and faith that the 53-year-old can get his side out of the sticky situation they’ve been in recently.
Moving forward, the best way City can get their season back on track is by doing something they’ve only done twice in the Premier League era – beat Liverpool at Anfield this weekend.
Related Posts