Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, once colleagues at Manchester City, have evolved into fierce rivals over the past six years, yet Guardiola maintains that their personal ties remain cordial. This comes despite the friction that emerged after a dramatic 2-2 draw between Manchester City and Arsenal in September 2024, where tactical disputes sparked public comments.
Friction Over Tactical Comments
After that eventful match at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola expressed displeasure with Arteta's remark that he had "all the information" about City, a nod to his tenure as an assistant from 2016 to 2019. Arteta's statement seemed to imply knowledge of City's so-called dark arts, a topic that arose when City players John Stones and Bernardo Silva criticized Arsenal's approach during the game. Stones described it as "clever, or dirty, whichever way you want to put it," highlighting the ongoing debate over gamesmanship in football.
Guardiola's Response to Rivalry Questions
Ahead of the Carabao Cup final this Sunday, Guardiola was asked if he could still share a meal with Arteta. He dismissed the idea, citing busy schedules, but emphasized that their relationship has simply changed from their daily interactions at City. "The relationship is completely different to when we were here five or six hours a day," Guardiola stated. He added, "All the managers have a lot of business to do, but if you want to try with your question to create some conflict with Mikel or myself or Arsenal, I am old enough to [see you trying to] do that."
When questioned about the irony of Arsenal now mastering dark arts, Guardiola deflected, urging reporters to ask Arteta directly. "Go to London, to the conference with Mikel. You have time to go – go there and ask him about that," he said. He further downplayed the issue, noting, "Look what happens around the world, we are in an incredible chaos and nobody moves one finger. Everything is behind the scenes. The world is going to collapse and still we are here talking about either dark arts of one team or another team. There are more important things than that."
Praise for Arteta's Arsenal Style
Despite the tensions, Guardiola praised Arteta for developing Arsenal's distinctive playing style, which has positioned them as contenders for an unprecedented quadruple this season. "Normally it happens that the team who wins there is a tendency to copy, but that is a bit of a mistake because you have to feel what you have to do [personal to you]," Guardiola explained. "Otherwise, in the long term, it will not work." This acknowledgment underscores the respect between the two managers, even as they compete at the highest level.
Impact on the Premier League Title Race
Currently, Arsenal leads the Premier League by nine points, though City has a game in hand and will host Arsenal next month. Guardiola was cautious about predicting how Sunday's Carabao Cup final might influence the title race. "I don't know. Winning helps just for the fact that winning helps [confidence]," he said. "But we can win on Sunday and then be bad in the league. I learned that in many competitions and many games with a short time of recovery you have to have the ability to forget and move forwards. Learn what you have to do better and this is what you have to do."
In team news, Guardiola confirmed that James Trafford will start as goalkeeper for City in the final, having been the consistent choice throughout their Carabao Cup campaign this season. This decision highlights City's strategy and preparation for the crucial match against their rivals.



