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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola backs Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, insisting there is ‘no doubt’ his former assistant is still the best man to lead the Gunners forward.
- Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta is struggling after a five-game winless streak in the league
- Arteta was assistant coach at Manchester City with Pep Guardiola 2016-19
- And Guardiola has supported his compatriot to turn things around at the Emirates
Pep Guardiola backed his former assistant coach Mikel Arteta to turn things around at struggling Arsenal.
Arteta won two Premier Leagues, an FA Cup and two League Cup titles as Guardiola’s No. 2 at Manchester City, but left to become Arsenal boss in December 2019.
The Gunners are currently 15th in the Premier League and are just five points from the relegation zone after losing their last three games, including a 2-0 loss to Tottenham in the North London derby.
Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta is under pressure after a five-match Premier League winless streak
But City boss Guardiola said Arteta needed time to turn things around at the Emirates and was the right man for the rebuilding job.
He said: ‘Arsenal don’t have a coach to run this club in the next few years better than him. I don’t have to give my support, because he has it and he knows he has it.
He is one of the best coaches I have ever worked with, of course, and I have seen him directly, because of his personality, his commitment, his love for his club. Without his love for his club, he would still be here.
Arteta had three years of great success as Manchester City’s assistant coach 2016-2019
The Spaniard left City to become Arsenal manager in December 2019, but his team is in bad shape
I’m pretty sure he will turn it around and do it like everyone expects. Sometimes when a club comes from a bad time, it needs time. I know that in this world, (people think) you don’t need time.
“If I were part of the Arsenal board of directors, I would have no doubts about their quality and ability to put Arsenal in the place Arsenal deserve.”
Granit Xhaka was sent off by a smug grip around the neck from Ashley Westwood, while captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his first career own goal in a 1-0 loss to teammates Burnley on Monday.
Granit Xhaka was sent off for grabbing Ashley Westwood’s neck against Burnley in a 1-0 loss
Aubameyang has only scored two Premier League goals this season after signing a lucrative new three-year contract in September, epitomizing the club’s scoring woes.
Arsenal have only scored 10 Premier League goals in 12 games, their lowest number at this time in a top flight campaign in 39 years.
Arteta’s team host fourth-placed Southampton on Wednesday night, with a chance to end their five-game league winless streak.
Gunners captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (right) scored an own goal against the Clarets.
