Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has voiced his thoughts on Pep Guardiola‘s situation at Manchester City, suggesting the high standards he set leave little room for him to impress further.
Despite being Premier League champions for four consecutive years and eyeing a record-extending fifth, City have encountered challenges this season, barely advancing in the Champions League group phase and doubling last season’s loss count in the league already, placing them 12 points behind Liverpool and six behind Arsenal heading into this weekend’s clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta, who served as Guardiola’s assistant before taking the helm in north London, empathised with his former mentor’s recent plight and believes he knows the reason for it.
“The bar is so high for him that he can’t go higher,” Arteta told Marca. “So either you maintain it, or people will say you’re going backwards based only on the results they see, not on the work being done.
“Everyone knows how much I love him and how grateful I am for the opportunity he gave me. We’ve known each other for many years.
“Apart from the competitive aspect between our clubs, I always wish him well, and he knows it’s a genuine feeling. Regarding results, he knows things change very quickly.”
(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The Gunners and Arteta haven’t maintained their previous high standards this term either, drawing eight league matches but still closely trailing league leaders Liverpool with 47 points – though a crucial match against Guardiola’s side is on the horizon.
City have shown improvement in their last two league games, defeating Ipswich Town 6-0 and Chelsea 3-1. However, a European loss to PSG and a less-than-convincing 3-1 win over Club Brugge suggest they’re not at their peak, a fact acknowledged by Guardiola.
“Life is not the next 20 years or century that City are going to win [all] the Premier Leagues. Sometimes it happens: accept the reality, we’re struggling,” he admitted in early January.
“We will be back again. I want to fight and try to deliver to make people proud. Of course, if they (the fans) help us it will be easier, that’s for sure.
“If they help us to come to the distance that we were, it will be shorter. They are human beings, and they want to do it. My players, I know them perfectly. All of them want to do it, and that’s enough.”
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