"Arteta never celebrated goals we scored against Arsenal" Guardiola recalls.

 

PEP GUARDIOLA has revealed Mikel Arteta never celebrated goals against Arsenal during his days as Manchester City assistant.

The Gunners boss was No2 to Guardiola at the Etihad from 2016-19.

During that time the pair won two Premier League titles together, and celebrated countless goals.

But Arteta was always reluctant to celebrate against the Gunners, a team he played for and captained.

Guardiola and Arteta at Mancity

After leaving Guardiola and City to become Arsenal boss, Arteta has guided the club to an FA cup triumph as well as the community shield in the same year, and to the top of the Premier league table this season.

But before two anticipated meetings in the league, the two Spaniards go head-to-head on Friday in a huge FA Cup fourth round clash.

The City manager said: "Everyone has dreams and I know he went to his club, the team he dreams of.

"He is a supporter of Arsenal, from the fact he played there, he was a captain there. He loves the club."

"I remember when we were together here when we score goals he jumps a lot and celebrates, except [against] one team, it was Arsenal".

"It was that moment I said 'that guy likes Arsenal'."

Friday's encounter against City in the FA cup is the first of three blockbuster meetings in three months between the two title rivals.

The Gunners are currently five points clear of City, with a game in hand on the Etihad outfit.

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