Man City vs Arsenal: Pep Guardiola names key difference between him and Mikel Arteta

Pep Guardiola said Mikel Arteta has ‘changed the structure’ of Arsenal, ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash against Manchester City.

The Gunners head to the Etihad five points ahead of City, although Guardiola’s men have two games in hand, meaning the title race is in their hands. The City manager is hoping to win a fifth Premier League title this and beat his former assistant to top spot in the process.

Arteta spent over three years as part of Guardiola’s coaching staff at the Etihad, and cites the former Barcelona manager as the biggest influence on his coaching career. However, Guardiola explained ahead of Wednesday’s game how Arteta is carrying out roles in North London that even Guardiola doesn’t take charge of at City.

“I think the development of the club since Mikel took over is obvious, it is the reality,” he said. “When you talk about the work of a football manager, I am a trainer, I’m not a manager.

“I have the feeling that Mikel changes the structure of the club, the mentality of the club, not just 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 or build-up or long balls. He changes a lot of players. He has been supported by the hierarchy of the club and that is why the success is there. He came from the position Arsenal have been.

“Before it was a top six, now a will be a top eight to fight for the Premier Leagues in the future because Newcastle is there and for every year it will be more a more difficult and Arsenal in the last years always was never there, was far away. Last season was close to be in the top four and this season make another step because all season [they] have been there. For how consitent they have been, I have been impressed. They have been really good.”

Asked if thinks Wednesday’s game will be the decisive match of the season, Guardiola replied: “It is really important, not decisive because there are still many tough games for both sides. We have more tough games to play but cannot deny how important it is.

“It’s good to be here,” he added, on the title race. “After the first [half] of the Premier League [season], what Arsenal has done it is difficult to think we were here in that moment, so it is really really important game becuase we can get points and our biggest opponents cannot get it.”