Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has shared a candid moment of frustration involving his former assistant and current Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta.
Guardiola disclosed that he had offered tactical advice to Arteta prior to their recent clash — guidance that was ultimately disregarded, contributing to Arsenal’s defeat.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola explained that he had urged Arteta to reconsider a particular positional choice.
However, the Arsenal manager opted to stay with his initial strategy, which Guardiola believes was a crucial mistake.
“My issue with Arteta is that sometimes he chooses to go his own way,” Pep stated during the post-match press conference.
“I told him the day before to switch a player’s position, but he decided to ignore that suggestion — and it ended up costing them the game.”
Although Guardiola did not name the player in question, insider reports from Manchester City indicate the advice was related to Kai Havertz.
The German international was once again played in a deeper midfield role rather than his more natural attacking position — a tactical decision that came under scrutiny after the match.
Havertz struggled to influence the game from the midfield area, often isolated and unable to effectively connect with Arsenal’s attacking players.
His positioning left gaps that the opposition exploited, and Arsenal found themselves overwhelmed in the middle of the park.
This imbalance was a key reason they lost control of the game — something Guardiola subtly pointed out in his comments.
“There are times when a manager has to be adaptable,” Guardiola continued.
“It’s not about sticking to pride or ego, but about understanding the game and accepting input from others who may offer a different viewpoint.”
Guardiola’s remarks have reignited discussions about Arteta’s tactical flexibility, especially in high-stakes matches.
While some supporters admire Arteta’s confidence in his own methods, others believe this incident highlights a potential weakness in his approach — an unwillingness to adapt when necessary.
Facing mounting pressure, Arsenal will need to bounce back quickly in their upcoming fixtures.
Observers are keen to see whether Arteta will reflect on Guardiola’s critique and adjust his tactics, or persist with the system that has brought both praise and criticism.
When questioned about Guardiola’s public comments, Arteta responded diplomatically:
“I make decisions that I think are best for the team. I respect other viewpoints, but I stand by my own choices.”
This latest development adds another intriguing layer to the evolving relationship between the two managers — once mentor and apprentice, now fierce Premier League rivals.
All eyes will be on Arteta to see how he responds, both tactically and mentally, in the wake of Guardiola’srevealing statement.
