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Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola look to be on the path from friends to enemies
Pep Guardiola has fired back at Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, challenging him to clarify the cryptic comments he made following last weekend's heated draw at the Etihad Stadium.
Arteta makes coy remarks about Manchester City secrets
Guardiola and Arteta, once close colleagues, now find themselves in a fierce competition, with their teams Manchester City and Arsenal vying for the Premier League title.
Following Manchester City’s 2-2 draw against Arteta’s Arsenal, the Spanisih gaffer’s irritation seemed to stem from accusations that his team was relying on 'dark arts' to hold off the Cityzens while the Gunners were down to 10 men.
Arteta, visibly frustrated about questions surrounding his team’s use of “dark arts,” hinted that he possessed inside knowledge about Manchester City stemming from his four years as Guardiola’s assistant.
Speaking after the match, Arteta said, “I was there for four years. I have all the information. So I know. Believe me.”
Guardiola demands answers from Arteta
In response, Guardiola, surprised by his former assistant’s comments, went on the offensive. He suggested that if Arteta was hinting at something bigger like Manchester City's ongoing issues with the Premier League over alleged financial breaches he should come out and say it.
Ahead of Manchester City’s match against Newcastle this weekend, Guardiola answered Areta’s comments, saying, “Next time, Arteta has to be more clear... exactly he means, what happens here".
"It can be related to all the processes, now with the 115 charges. Maybe it’s about that, he knows information about that maybe, or things I don’t know”
As Manchester City and Arsenal continue to go head to head, it remains to be seen how far the relationship between the pair will deteriorate.
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