Arteta directly points to the greatest coach in history

As Arsenal battles Man City for the Premier League title, Arteta publicly honors Pep Guardiola as the greatest manager ever.

Arsenal currently leads the Premier League title race by 6 points over Manchester City with 13 matches remaining. It seemed the North London club would extend their lead to 9 points after a 3-0 victory over Sunderland and seeing Man City trailing Liverpool until the late minutes. However, two late goals from Pep Guardiola’s team kept the competition intense.

Seeing Man City come back at Anfield, Arsenal knows a 6-point gap isn’t safe enough. Arteta’s team must maintain high performance during the final stretch, especially since their main rival has extensive championship experience. Arteta himself experienced that winning environment while serving as Guardiola’s assistant at Man City.

Speaking about his former mentor, Arteta told Metro: “I learned from Pep since I was 15, when we first met at Barcelona.” Later, he had the chance to work directly with Guardiola at Man City and admitted: “In my opinion, he is a master, the greatest coach in history.” Arteta regards these experiences as a crucial foundation for his current coaching career.

Besides praising Guardiola’s talent, Arteta also emphasized the Spanish strategist’s profound impact on modern football: “Pep revolutionized football and how people understand this sport. Being part of that has been an incredible experience, and I’m truly grateful.” This view reflects Arteta’s deep respect for the legacy Pep has left behind.

In addition to Guardiola, Arteta was also greatly influenced by Arsene Wenger during his time at Arsenal. Recalling lessons from his former coach, Arteta said: “The first thing was his love and respect for football.” He believes Wenger created a balance between tactical discipline and creative freedom, enabling players to maximize their individual abilities.

The Premier League title race is expected to remain unpredictable as Man City could reduce the gap to 3 points before Arsenal faces Brentford. Amid growing pressure, Arteta’s remarks both show admiration for Pep Guardiola, and demonstrate Arsenal’s resilience and determination in their quest for the crown.