Are you sure, Pep?! Guardiola claims Arsenal have outplayed EVERY opponent ‘over the last month or two’ and deserve to be higher than 10th in the table… as he insists he ‘didn’t inspire’ Mikel Arteta and deserves no credit for his career
- Pep Guardiola believes Arsenal deserve to be in a higher position in the table
- The City boss claimed Arsenal have been better than every team in recent games
- Guardiola’s men go to the Emirates with chance to claim 18th successive win
Pep Guardiola believes Arsenal are in a false position and are not earning the results their performances merit.
Manchester City go to the Emirates on Sunday gunning to stretch their consecutive winning streak to 18 and maintain a healthy lead at the Premier League summit.
But Guardiola is wary of his old assistant manager Mikel Arteta and insisted Arsenal should not be languishing in 10th place.
Pep Guardiola insists Arsenal are a much better side than their current position suggests
The City boss believes Arsenal’s performances have not garnered the results they’ve deserved
‘Over the last month or two they’ve play better than the opponent in every game,’ Guardiola said. ‘As a manager you want the results you deserve, sometimes it doesn’t happen.
‘But in the games they are always better, controlling, creating chances and conceding few. We’ll need to play as good as possible with the ball and run a lot. They have exceptional build up, the quality and energy.’
Arsenal have won only one of their last four league games and draw against Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday night. Arteta has won plaudits for the way in which he attempts to evolve the club but his former boss refused to take credit for the apprentice’s rise.
City go to Arsenal on Sunday looking to claim 18th successive win and to extend lead at the top
Guardiola also played down any influence he had on his old assistant Mikel Arteta
‘I didn’t inspire him,’ Guardiola added. ‘I know absolutely that I wasn’t any influence, he takes all the credit with his staff.
‘I learned off him and we worked together. I listen a lot to my assistants, most of the time we take decisions together, I don’t know the influence – he has to answer. I worked really well with him and now he’s doing it for himself.’
City welcomed back Kevin De Bruyne for the victory at Everton in midweek, while they will make late checks on Ilkay Gundogan’s groin injury before Sunday. Nathan Ake, who has not featured for two months, is started to complete rehabilitation alone.
