Pep Guardiola ramps up Arsenal mind games with five-word warning to Mikel Arteta

After Manchester City made up ground on Arsenal to pile further pressure on the Gunners’ shoulders, Pep Guardiola sent a sharp message to Mikel Arteta

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has sent a five-word warning to Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. Guardiola, 55, told the north Londoners he would not be resting on his laurels if positions were reversed.

The Gunners appeared anxious in their 1-1 away stalemate with Brentford on Wednesday evening. The day before, City narrowed the deficit to three points by dispatching Fulham 3-0.

Meanwhile, Arsenal struggled to cope with the Bees’ aerial bombardment and would have suffered defeat had Igor Thiago converted his late opportunity. Arteta has maintained his team must remain composed and take their game to another level.

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Whilst the north London outfit may be glancing nervously at City, Guardiola insisted he would much prefer to be in Arsenal’s position. He also sent a five-word warning, saying “I would not be relaxed” if he was in the Gunners’ shoes.

Speaking in his press conference ahead of City’s FA Cup encounter against Salford City, the former Barcelona boss said: “I would prefer to be in the position Arsenal are in than in our position.

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“I would prefer that. If I would be in the position (Arsenal are in) of four points in front and second with 20 games left. I would not be relaxed. Imagine being four points behind and less relaxed. Still, I would prefer to be in the position Arsenal are in than we are.”

Following Arsenal’s stalemate at the G-Tech Community Stadium, Guardiola’s former right-hand man made it clear his team cannot afford to lose their composure. Arteta said: “We’re going to be preparing to win every single match.

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“That’s the only thing we can do. Raise the levels, collectively and individually, to be better than our opponents every week. That’s going to carry on like this until May.”

Declan Rice also reiterated Arteta’s sentiment in his own post-match chat. The ex-West Ham midfielder said: “This is a rollercoaster of a season. You can’t be naive to think this is going to be easy. We are playing against the best teams week in, week out.

“We have to keep pushing and believing in ourselves, controlling the controllable. We have to block out the outside noise. We have done that really well. People are going to talk up the title race and Arsenal but we have a really calm group.”

Arsenal are in FA Cup action this weekend, welcoming 2013 winners Wigan Athletic to the Emirates Stadium. Given the points squandered against the Bees, a decisive triumph will be required to restore any confidence depleted at the G-Tech.

Furthermore, some have tipped Arsenal to clinch the Quadruple. They have already secured their spot in the League Cup final and the knockout phases of the Champions League. Having endured six years without a significant trophy, Arteta will not be casting his gaze too far into the future.

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