Pep Guardiola Y Mikel Arteta faces are seen again. It will be this Saturday, in the Etihad Stadium, and although it will not be the first time, it will serve as a tiebreaker after each one has imposed once on the other in the two battles prior to this one.
The first time that Pep and Mikel they clashed after the Basque left the Manchester City after three and a half seasons being the second of Guardiola was on June 16, at the resumption of the Premier League after the three-month hiatus due to the coronavirus. He won 3-0 on Manchester City, who ran over Arsenal in a game in which the ‘gunners’ were a want and I cannot continue against a ‘citizen’ team that, with De Bruyne As a conductor, he signed one of his best performances of the course. But Arteta learned his lesson, and how much Arsenal and Manchester City they met again, on July 18 and with a ticket to the final of the FA Cup at stake, he knew how to do what he had to do to win: score (at least) one more goal than the rival. The ball was again from City, who enjoyed 71% of possession (up from 67% in June 3-0), but Arsenal knew how to take advantage of the moments when it could hurt. Thus he managed to win 2-0, with two blows of Aubameyang being one of them beautifully made for the beauty and elaboration of the play.
Mikel Arteta he has more than earned himself ceasing to be 'the helper of'. The Basque coach has fallen on his feet in the Arsenal. In what is his first experience as head of a bench, he is pleasantly surprising and in less than a year he has already been able to bring two titles to the showcases of the 'gunner' team: the FA Cup and the Community Shield. On both occasions being Jürgen's executioner Klopp.
But beyond any result, what he likes about Arteta is his idea and game plan. Neither Unai emery neither Fredrik Ljungberg they managed to make forget to Arsène Wenger, and although French will always be in the memory, Arteta it does begin to give reason to think that it can mark an era at Emirates. For this he has to go step by step, and the next in his growth is to tilt the balance of direct duels in his favor with respect to a Pep Guardiola of which in a way until recently he was a disciple. Before and after the ball rolls, they will surely greet each other with affection, but between the initial whistle and the end there will be no room for complacency. The stakes are high.