Pep Guardiola has called on Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta to clarify barbed comments he made towards Manchester City in the wake of last weekend’s ill-tempered draw at the Etihad — and said he was ready for ‘war’ with the Gunners.
The bad blood between the Premier League title rivals shows no signs of abating, with Guardiola understood to feel let down by vague accusations emanating from his former assistant manager.
Arteta was clearly agitated by suggestions that his team utilised the ‘dark arts’ as they defended their lead with 10 men at the Etihad Stadium and on Tuesday said: ‘I have been there (City) before. I was there for four years. I have all the information. So I know. Believe me.’
Guardiola messaged Arteta after the draw but was then taken by surprise by the Arsenal manager’s midweek comments.
And on Friday he responded, referencing City’s ongoing hearing with the Premier League over the club’s alleged financial misdemeanours.
Pep Guardiola has hit back at his former assistant Mikel Arteta after the Arsenal made vague accusations about his side
Ahead of Saturday's trip to Newcastle United, Guardiola said: ‘Next time Mikel has to be more clear exactly what he means.
'We know exactly what happened here in those four years. Maybe it’s about the 115 charges, maybe he has information on that or maybe he has something I don’t know? Next time, with the good relation I have with him, he can answer exactly what he means when he says he was here.’
Guardiola added: ‘(Arsenal defender) Gabriel said it perfectly after the match. So this is a war, we have here to provoke the opponent, to push them, and at the end, what can you do? You want a war? Now we war.’
Guardiola also confirmed that Rodri will miss the entire season after suffering damage to the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his right knee. Rodri had surgery in Madrid on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, Arteta has mocked critics of Arsenal’s conservative playing style at the Etihad, saying any other approach would be like wearing ‘flip-flops and shorts’ in the rain.
Ahead of Arsenal’s match against Leicester, Arteta added: ‘I want to win. The way we prepare games and the way we want to play — in our way.
‘But understanding the context. I want to wear flip-flops, shorts and a T-shirt, but with this weather? I think I would be very silly to do that. “I am very brave” — yeah, but tomorrow you are sick.’
Ben White and Jurrien Timber are set to return to the squad, while David Raya faces a late call on his fitness. Mikel Merino is pushing to make his long-awaited debut next week.