LATEST NEWS: Pep Guardiola revealed that despite their efforts yesterday, Arteta made a single mistake in the second half that almost caused a downfall. As a young manager, Guardiola wants to guide Arteta so he can avoid repeating the error in the future.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola voiced his frustration with Arsenal’s tactics during their fiercely contested match at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The game ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, with City defender John Stones scoring a crucial equalizer in stoppage time, thwarting Arsenal’s defense. The turning point of the match came when Arsenal were reduced to 10 men for the entire second half after Leandro Trossard received a red card just before halftime.
As Arsenal struggled to defend their lead, many of their players were visibly suffering from cramp, which Guardiola believed was a deliberate attempt to waste time and disrupt City’s rhythm. He was particularly frustrated by these interruptions, which seemed aimed at halting City’s momentum as Arsenal desperately tried to maintain their advantage. After the game, Guardiola did not hesitate to express his annoyance over the Gunners’ time-wasting tactics.
Despite Arsenal’s attempts to protect their lead, City found a way to break through, with Stones’ late goal bringing the match to a tense conclusion. Both sides were missing crucial players, adding to the intensity of the contest. Arsenal was without their captain, Martin Ødegaard, while City lacked the presence of their key midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne. To complicate matters further for City, they also lost Rodri to what appeared to be a serious injury midway through the first half.
Guardiola expressed his concern about Rodri’s condition but admitted that he had yet to speak with the medical team to determine the extent of the injury. However, his frustrations after the match extended beyond fitness issues. Guardiola’s post-match comments seemed to criticize Arsenal’s strategy, subtly targeting his former assistant and current Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta. Guardiola implied that the frequent stoppages due to Arsenal players cramping were a deliberate strategy to slow down the game, suggesting it was part of a calculated effort to run down the clock and maintain their narrow lead.
Although the match ended in a draw, Guardiola’s remarks underscored the rising tension between the two teams, particularly given the high stakes of the encounter and the ongoing tactical battle between two of the Premier League’s top managers. Both teams will now have to regroup and address their injury concerns as they continue their respective campaigns. However, Guardiola’s comments suggest that the psychological contest between him and Arteta is far from resolved.