Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted he has been provoked into a ‘war’ with Arsenal as he urged Gunners boss Mikel Arteta to explain his recent comments about his time at City .
Arteta was accused of using the “dark arts” in the recent 2-2 draw between the two sides and offered a cryptic response that many have interpreted as a dig at City’s legal battle against the Premier League over 115 alleged breaches of the financial regulations.
“I’ve been there before, I was there for four years,” Arteta said. “I have all the information. So I know. Believe me.”
Although he may have been referring to cityOwning to using tactical fouls to slow down games when necessary, Guardiola demanded Arteta clarify his comments to avoid any speculation.
“Next time Mikel needs to be more clear about what he means exactly,” Guardiola replied. “He said he was here four years and he knows exactly what happened here. This may be related to the process now with 115 charges, maybe he knows information? Or maybe he had something like that, I don’t know?
“I wish he had asked himself that question and could answer exactly what he meant.”
The recent tie between the two sides was full of animosity, with arsenal Central Gabriel Magalhaes compared the pair’s rivalry to “a battle” or “a war”.
In a frustrated response, Guardiola said: “You want a war? We are at war now. Gabriel said it perfectly in the press after the game, so this is a war. We have to provoke the opponent, push him, and the end. , what can you do you provoke me, okay, I’m there.”
