Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has fired a warning shot to title rivals Mikel Arteta and Arsenal as rivalry between the two English clubs get heated
Things are getting pretty heated between title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal in early season exchanges.
Just five matches in and it is already promising to be a tasty encounter between the two juggernauts.
The rivalry between City and Arsenal stems from back-to-back title races that have seen the blue side of Manchester come out on top in two different occasions.
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The boiling point for both clubs came in City's 2-2 draw to 10-men Arsenal where things got tasty after John Stones late equalizer to crush the Gunners heart who had held on to their for a majority of the half.
The aftermath was a war of words between both managers and players alike with City players criticizing Arsenals defensive tactics in the 2-2 draw, labelling the style of play as the 'dark arts'.
City boss Pep Guardiola has since come out to declare 'war' on Mikel Arteta's charges when questioned on whether he liked Erling Haaland's conduct during last Sunday's draw.
“Gabriel said perfectly in the press conference. We are here to push the opponent. You provoke me? Ok, here I’m. You want a war? Ok, now we go to war," said the City boss via Haysters
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Guardiola further responded to claims that Mikel Arteta knew the inner workings Manchester City from his time there.
"He (Mikel Arteta) has to be more clear. He has to say what he means he's been here (at City) because we know what is happening here. Maybe it is related to the process and the 115 charges," added Guardiola.
The Arsenal boss has not taken the jab lying down and has intead welcomed the 'hostility' from Pep's City.
"I prefer this reaction much more than someone clapping my back after the game and saying: Well done, you guys are in the right direction," said Arteta in a press conference.
"This is why I do what I do," he added.