PEP GUARDIOLA has revealed Mikel Arteta didn’t celebrate goals against Arsenal during his days as Manchester City assistant.
The Gunners boss was No2 to Guardiola at the Etihad from 2016-19.
ReutersPep Guardiola has revealed Mikel Arteta never celebrated goals against Arsenal during his time at Manchester City.[/caption]
During that time the pair won two Premier League titles together, and celebrated countless goals.
But Arteta was always reluctant to celebrate against the Gunners, a team he played for and captained.
After leaving Guardiola and City to become Arsenal boss, Arteta has guided the club to the top of the Prem table this season.
But before two crunch meetings in the league, the two Spaniards go head-to-head on Friday in a huge FA Cup fourth round clash.
And Guardiola always knew Arsenal held a special place in Arteta’s heart.
The City manager said: “Everyone has dreams and I know he went to his club, the team he dreams of.
“He is a supporter of Arsenal, from the fact he played there, he was a captain there.
“He loves the club.
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
“I remember when we were together here when we score goals he jumps a lot and celebrates, except [against] one team.
“One team every time we score a goal, I jump, look back, and he was sitting there. It was Arsenal.
“It was that moment I said ‘that guy likes Arsenal’.”
Arteta won two FA Cups as a player with Arsenal, before lifting the trophy as a manager with the Gunners in 2020.
Friday’s encounter against City in the same competition is the first of three blockbuster meetings in three months between the two title rivals.
The Gunners are currently five points clear of City, with a game in hand on the Etihad outfit.