Pep Guardiola explains when he realised Mikel Arteta's love for Arsenal | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola will go head-to-head for the first time this season on Friday evening.

Man City welcome the north London side to the Etihad Stadium for their FA Cup fourth round clash.

Arsenal have been imperious this season and have a five-point lead over City at the top of the Premier League.

City will be hoping to get one over Arsenal as they look to win their first FA Cup title since 2019.

Pep Guardiola pinpoints moment he realised Mikel Arteta’s love for Arsenal

Arteta worked under Guardiola as an assistant coach at City for four years.

Their time together came to an end when Arteta took up the Arsenal job in 2019.

Guardiola and Arteta have maintained a good relationship since and the two often praise each other when speaking to the media.

Guardiola’s respect for his former colleague was once again apparent when he spoke to the press on Thursday ahead of the match.

“I know he went to his club,” he told his pre-match press conference, per the Daily Mail: “The team he dreams of.

“He’s a supporter, he was a captain there. He loves the club. I remember here when we scored goals he jumped a lot except against one team.

“He was sitting there – it was Arsenal. I said ‘that guy likes Arsenal’. Like here, if I’m training as assistant and Barcelona call me, I go.’

He added: “I said many times to my players and staff. We felt if one team could offer him a role as manager he’d leave.

“I’m not a guy to say ‘stay with me’. Everyone has dreams. People have to fly when they believe it is the best.

“To players, if they are not happy, they have to leave , life is too short.”

It’s great to see the mutual respect and admiration that the two great managers have for each other.