Arsenal were struggling to break into the Premier League’s top six until Arteta took the reins in 2019, slowly but surely closing the gap to second place in the past two campaigns. City won the league title in 2023 with only five points more than their north London rivals, while the most recent campaign saw Arteta’s side miss out by just two.
Speaking as the 2024/25 campaign got underway, Guardiola was pressed on who he thinks will be City’s top rivals for the title this year. He began: “Always at the beginning of the season, the first target is to finish in the top four. People say: ‘Oh, come on’, I say ‘no’. Newcastle are not in Europe and are going to play one game a week. Newcastle with one game a week this season will be the Newcastle of two seasons ago.”
However, the 53-year-old skimmed over his close rivals in the Gunners, admitting: “Arsenal are not necessary to talk about.” His understanding that Arteta’s men will once again be hot on the heels of City in this season’s race to the Premier League title is undoubtedly a nod to how highly he rates his compatriot.
The 42-year-old, after all, was a key part of Guardiola’s coaching team at Man City between 2016 and 2019, where he will have picked up a wealth of experience from his La Liga, Bundesliga and Premier League-conquering mentor over three years.
Ahead of the final game of the 2023/24 season, Guardiola praised his “incredible” fellow countryman, in admiration of the work he had achieved with Arsenal throughout the campaign. He told beIN Sports: “What can I say? He’s an incredible manager what they have done this season with Arsenal.”
Arteta missed out on his maiden Premier League trophy with Arsenal both as a player and a manager in the cruellest fashion. Arsenal were just two points behind City heading into their final fixture of the season with Everton, and a win at the Emirates Stadium would only have been enough to pip Guardiola to the title if Man City were to have lost their final game with West Ham.
Arsenal fell a goal behind in the 40th minute of their own game when Idrissa Gueye broke the deadlock, but Takehiro Tomiyasu responded with an equaliser just three minutes later. Kai Havertz would seal the deal for the Gunners in the 89th, but the result wasn’t enough to take the title to north London.
That’s because, at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola’s Blues had performed one final masterclass over the Hammers, Phil Foden bagging a brace and Rodri putting the game to bed in a 3-1 victory.
Arteta will have the chance to guide Arsenal to their first league title since the ‘invincibles’ season of 2003/04 this year, after kicking off their campaign on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Wolves on home turf – Havertz and Bukayo Saka making their mark either side of the half-time whistle.
Manchester City, meanwhile, gear up for their maiden game of the season against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday – Guardiola hoping for another piece of silverware for his growing collection.
