Guardiola: Arteta is 'above and beyond' a good manager

28 Aug 2021 16:03 BST
3 min read

Arteta responds to Arsenal fans over Martinelli concerns — © ProShots

Pep Guardiola has provided some passionate support of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, with the latter under increasing pressure following a 5-0 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday.

The Gunners started the match at the Etihad in a relatively positive fashion, like against Chelsea last weekend, but like against Chelsea too, their heads dropped after conceding the opening goal.

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Man City scored five on the day, with Ferran Torres grabbing two and Ilkay Gundogan, Gabriel Jesus and Rodri also getting on the scoresheet.

Guardiola's side did receive a helping hand in the first half when Granit Xhaka received a silly red card for a two-footed tackle on Joao Cancelo, but they dominated just as much before the dismissal as after it.

In reality, the scoreline could have been much worse for Arsenal, and Arteta now faces major criticism again after another bad result, which has followed defeats versus Brentford and Chelsea in the Premier League.

Many Arsenal fans want him sacked, but Guardiola, who worked with Arteta at City, insists his friend is a good manager and has been unlucky with the players unavailable recently.

"I work two or three years together [with Arteta], I learned many things from him,' he told BT Sport.

"He is above and beyond a good manager. The correct personality, leading, he is incredibly loved by all of us. We were sad when he left.

💬 "I have to say thank you to the 3,000 fans that came here today. On a difficult day like this, to give the support that they have... It’s outstanding."

🎙 @M8Arteta #MCIARS
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 28, 2021

"Sometimes people expect and want results immediately. The team he played today is not the team he dreamed because they have six, seven, eight injuries - really important.

"Ben White, Thomas Partey, he cannot use the players that he needs to.All the managers need the squad. All our players except Kevin [De Bruyne] and Phil [Foden], the other ones are completely fit.

"I am a big fan of him and I’m pretty sure, if they trust him, he will do a good job at Arsenal."

Arsenal's transfer window

As well as the results on the pitch, Arteta and director of football Edu are under pressure due to their underwhelming transfer window so far.

The club has spent more than anyone in England this summer, with Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Aaron Ramsdale and Martin Odegaard arriving for a combined outlay of £132 million.

Arsenal fans are concerned that only Whit and Odegaard will make an immediate impact on the first team and that much more reinforcements are required.