Manchester City face Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend, but ahead of the highly anticipated match, a long-held myth surrounding Mikel Arteta’s time at the Etihad Stadium has been debunked. According to FourFourTwo, the common theory that Arteta worked closely with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City because he was the assistant coach during the Spaniard’s tenure is not entirely accurate.
Arteta joined Manchester City in 2016, but he was not Guardiola’s assistant. Instead, he was the club’s Under-23 manager. It was during this period that Arteta worked under Guardiola, who was appointed as the first team manager in 2016. Arteta’s role at the club was to oversee the development of the club’s young players, while Guardiola focused on the first team.
Background
Arteta’s time at Manchester City was a crucial period in his development as a coach. He worked under Guardiola for two years before leaving the club in 2018 to become the manager of Arsenal. During his tenure at Manchester City, Arteta was instrumental in the development of the club’s young players, including Phil Foden and Leroy Sane.
Reaction
The news that Arteta did not work directly with Guardiola at Manchester City has sparked a mixed reaction from fans and pundits alike. Some have expressed surprise at the revelation, while others have questioned why the myth surrounding Arteta’s role at the club has been allowed to persist for so long.
Up next
Manchester City face Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend, with the match set to take place at the Emirates Stadium. Kick-off is at 4:30pm BST.
References
- AP
- FourFourTwo
- AS
