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 which many have interpreted as a dig at City’s legal battle against the Premier League for 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations.
“I have been there before, I was there for four years,” Arteta said. “I have all the information. So I know. Believe me.”
While he may have been referring to City‘s own use of tactical fouls to slow games down when necessary, Guardiola demanded Arteta clarify his comments to avoid any speculation.
“Next time Mikel has to be more clear about exactly what he means,” Guardiola responded. “He said he was here four years and knows exactly what happened here. That can be related to the process now with 115 charges, maybe he knows information about that? Or maybe he had something like, I don’t know?
“Hopefully this question has been asked and he can answer exactly what he means.”
The recent draw between the two sides was filled with real animosity, with Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes comparing the pair’s rivalry to “a battle” or “a war”.
In a frustrated response, Guardiola said: “You want a war? Now we war. Gabriel said it perfectly in the press after the match, so this is a war. We have to provoke the opponent, to push them, and at the end, what can you do? You provoke me, OK, I’m there.”
