Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has his best opportunity yet to get the better of his former boss Pep Guardiola in the Premier League title race. Guardiola’s Manchester City side are enduring their worst spell under the Spaniard and are two points below the Gunners in the Premier League table.
The Citizens appear to have blown their chances of winning a fifth consecutive Premier League title as they have been cut nine points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool. And they are also struggling in the Champions League.
But Arteta has already identified a Guardiola trait that could save City’s season.
Arteta worked as Guardiola’s assistant for three-and-a-half years between 2016 and 2019 before quitting the Etihad Stadium to take charge of Arsenal.
And during his very first press conference in north London, he explained that the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss had a “ruthless” edge.
“What I’ve learned [from Guardiola] mostly is that you have to be ruthless and you have to be consistent and you have to fit every day the culture of the club to create a winning mentality,” Arteta stated.
“To sustain it is even harder, so every day is important, every act is important, every organisation is important. His work-rate is incredible, how inspirational he is to people is incredible.”
Guardiola needs to show his ruthless side more than ever, with his team labouring to a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at the weekend after losing four consecutive Premier League matches between the start of November and the start of December.
A host of his star players aren’t doing the business this season, with Phil Foden’s form dropping off a cliff and Jack Grealish struggling to get a start at times. Kevin De Bruyne has been rocked by injury issues, while goalkeeper Ederson was replaced by back-up shot-stopper Stefan Ortega for the trip to Liverpool at the start of December before returning to the side against Juventus on Wednesday night.
Guardiola needs to identify which players can move forward into a new era at the club and which of his stars are coming to the end of the road in Manchester. He needs to bring in fresh faces during the January transfer window and rejuvenate the dressing room.
And as Arteta explained as he spoke about Guardiola’s leadership all those years ago: “For me, the secret is that the people, the players and the staff, have to believe what they’re trying to deliver.
“You have to be able to transmit it, and people will buy into that. When you do that, then you are a team and everybody’s together – and united you’re stronger.”
