Overview
- Mikel Arteta said he still speaks with Pep Guardiola and sees no reason to cool their friendship during the title chase.
- He cited the Federer–Nadal rivalry as a model for respectful competition and said cutting ties would set a poor example for sport.
- Arteta dismissed talk of mind games between the managers, saying outcomes will be decided on the pitch.
- The Arsenal manager first knew Guardiola at Barcelona’s academy and later worked under him for more than three years at Manchester City.
- Coverage also noted Guardiola’s recent praise of Arsenal as “the best team in the world,” and reported City’s January additions of Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo.