‘I love Pep’ – Arteta insists there are no issues with Guardiola after Arsenal’s late win over Leicester

Mikel Arteta shut down any possibility of a fall out between himself and Man City boss Pep Guardiola, insisting he “loves” his competitor.

Arteta worked at Manchester City as Guardiola’s assistant before leaving for Arsenal.

Following last week’s ill-tempered 2-2 draw and criticism of Arsenal’s tactics during the game from Man City players, Arteta responded by saying: “I was there (Man City) for four years.

“I have all the information. So I know. Believe me.”

Guardiola was asked about these comments ahead of City’s game against Newcastle, telling Arteta that he needed to be more clear.

And asked about Guardiola’s response after Arsenal’s late win over Leicester, Arteta said: “I can repeat it very clear, I love Pep, I’ve admired him since I was 10-years-old. I respect him profoundly, I am so grateful for everything he did for me and continues to do for me and I consider him a friend.

“I love and respect all of the staff there because I worked with them for four years and when I said that I know them, I meant I know how hard they work.

“I haven’t seen a human being work as hard as Pep and the coaches and everybody in that football club is consistently winning and the reason they are there is because they continue to maintain that hunger. This is exactly what I’ve learned and what I mean so it cannot be anymore clear than that.

“If you want to I can repeat it but if someone wants to damage the relationship that’s not in my hands but that feeling is profound, he knows it, the staff knows it because I still maintain with them today, with the board, with the ownership, with everyone. In sport there has to be a will to win, they have it and I have it.

“We have it for sure because we haven’t won it but they have it even if they have won it more than anybody else here. We have to learn and it has to be inspiring for us and it is for me, this is what I mean. It’s remarkable what they have achieved because they have that willing mentality, hopefully that is clear.”