Pep Guardiola tells Arsenal it would be a 'BIG mistake' to sack former No 2 Mikel Arteta

Pep Guardiola tells Arsenal it would be a ‘BIG mistake’ to sack his former No 2 Mikel Arteta despite dire run of form continuing with Carabao Cup quarter-final exit against Manchester City

  • Pep Guardiola has urged Arsenal not to sack his former assistant Mikel Arteta
  • Guardiola’s City dumped Arteta’s men out of the Carabao Cup quarter-finals
  • It heaped more pressure on the Arsenal boss after a horror start to the season
  • Arsenal are 15th in the Premier League, just four points above the drop-zone

Pep Guardiola has said it would be a ‘big mistake’ if Arsenal were to sack his former assistant Mikel Arteta as manager.

The Manchester City boss made the comments after his side knocked Arteta’s men out of the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a convincing 4-1 victory at the Emirates.

Arsenal have endured their worst start to a league season in 46 years, but Guardiola thinks they would be wrong to sack Arteta at this point.   

Pep Guardiola (right) has said it would be a 'big mistake' if Arsenal sacked Mikel Arteta (left)

Pep Guardiola (right) has said it would be a ‘big mistake’ if Arsenal sacked Mikel Arteta (left)

Arsenal were dumped out of the Carabao Cup quarter-finals by Manchester City last night

Arsenal were dumped out of the Carabao Cup quarter-finals by Manchester City last night

‘They will do a huge, big mistake if they [sack Arteta],’ he told BBC Radio 5 Live. ‘I’m pretty sure they are going to trust him.

‘I understand that the analysts analyse the results. But I was with him many years and I know his incredible quality as a human being and especially as a manager, how he is involved in everything. It’s just a question of time and he will do well.

‘I’m not on the board. For me they will do a big mistake if they are thinking [to sack him].

‘They give him the confidence, they won two titles when for a long time ago it didn’t happen at this club. 

‘In this pandemic situation, with injury problems they have and the games they played they always played good.

‘But unfortunately these games are our job and it depends on the results. But football changes in one week so quick.

Arteta was Guardiola's assistant at City from 2016 before leaving for Arsenal last December

Arteta was Guardiola’s assistant at City from 2016 before leaving for Arsenal last December

‘I can speak about my experience alongside him, one of the most incredible successful teams in English history we had and he was part of this success and it would not be possible without him, and to create something like this you need time like I had in my first season.’

Arteta was appointed Guardiola’s assistant in 2016 and left for Arsenal last December, having helped City to back-to-back Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.

Tuesday’s Carabao Cup exit piled even more pressure on the Arsenal boss as his side were comprehensively taken apart by the competition holders.

City opened the scoring in just the third minute when Gabriel Jesus headed Oleksandr Zinchenko’s cross past Runar Alex Runarsson as the keeper tried to punch clear. 

Alexandre Lacazette restored parity with a stooping header from Gabriel Martinelli’s cross just past the half-hour mark, but the Gunners were then blown away.

Runarsson in particular had an evening to forget as he deputised for Bernd Leno, letting a Riyad Mahrez free-kick escape his grasp for City to go back in front again.

Phil Foden netted a delightful chip before Aymeric Laporte turned in a cross from the young midfielder to complete the rout.

Arsenal find themselves in 15th place in the Premier League, just four points above the drop-zone.

source: dailymail.co.uk