Sports
Pep Guardiola Hits Back At Gabriel, Arteta Amid Title Race Tensions
Last season, Manchester City and Arsenal fiercely contested the Premier League title, with the Gunners falling short on both occasions. As the rivalry heats up once more, tensions have surfaced following their recent 2-2 draw.
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In that match, emotions boiled over, particularly when City’s Erling Haaland threw the ball at Arsenal’s Gabriel after John Stones’ late equalizer. When questioned about the incident, Gabriel hinted at more confrontations to come, stating, “Battle, war, provocation is normal in football, and it’s part of the game. It’s over now. Now we are waiting for them at our ground.”
Pep Guardiola, renowned for his tactical acumen and sharp media presence, did not hold back in responding to Gabriel’s comments. During a fiery press conference, Guardiola emphasized that his team is fully prepared to match Arsenal’s intensity in the title race.
“You want a war? Now we war,” Guardiola declared. “Gabriel said it perfectly after the match. He said: This is a war; we are here to provoke the opponent, to push them. At the end, what can you do? So, we have to, okay, you provoke me, okay, I’m there!”
Guardiola’s statements indicate that Manchester City is ready to confront the challenge directly, heightening anticipation for their next encounter with Arsenal.
He also addressed remarks from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who suggested that City had resorted to ‘dark arts’ during their recent draw. Arteta, who was once a close ally of Guardiola during his tenure as City’s assistant manager, hinted at possessing insider knowledge of the club’s tactics.
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In response, Guardiola took a jab at Arteta, referencing the ongoing investigation into City’s financial practices, which has led to over 100 charges against the club by the Premier League.
“Next time, he has to be more clear exactly what he means,” Guardiola said. “Mikel said he was here four years, and we know exactly what happened here. Is it related to the 155 charges? Maybe he has information about that. Next time, like a good friend I have in him, I hope he gives a clear answer.”
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