Mikel Arteta is aiming to finally step out of the sizeable shadow cast over him by mentor-turned-title rival Pep Guardiola.
Like the well-worn trope of a Disney classic or a Hollywood blockbuster, the Arsenal manager is looking to win the age-old battle of master vs apprentice.
Arteta emerged through Barcelona’s fabled La Masia youth academy a decade after Guardiola, who had enjoyed a sparkling career in Catalonia – something Arteta would never manage.
On hanging up his boots, Arteta left Arsenal to take up a coaching role at Manchester City following Guardiola’s appointment at the Etihad Stadium.
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He has beaten Guardiola just once in seven meetings since then but now his Arsenal side sit five points clear of City at the Premier League summit.
The old friends meet once again on Friday night in the FA Cup fourth round, and Arteta is now aiming to prove he is doing things his own way, despite the clear influence of his teacher.
“I had this when I was a player as well,” he replied when asked if people assumed he would look to replicate Guardiola’s tactical approach after arriving at Arsenal.
“We grew up in the same position. I cannot control that. I have never tried to copy and paste anything.
“This club deserves much better than that, and it would not work that way. Every character and person dictates how the manager is, and how the team is. And we are very different.
“We are really different as people and we are very different as managers. That is why we understand each other so well and have the relationship that we have. That is probably for someone else to respond.
“I feel gratitude – first of all because he inspired me as a player and he inspired me and gave me the opportunity as a coach. That’s it.
How to watch Man City vs Arsenal
- Date: Friday 27 January
- Time: 8pm kick-off GMT
- TV: ITV 1
- Stream: ITV X
“For what people think of me, I accept it. Because I probably wouldn’t have had the career I had as a player, the understanding of the game or the purpose I had as a player if he hadn’t been in that time at Barcelona.
“I wouldn’t be sitting here and having that willingness and love for coaching if he hadn’t trusted in my love and given me the opportunity.”
That opportunity could yet see Arteta overthrow his old commander, for one season at least, and tonight’s meeting will set the tone for the two Premier League clashes to come.
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Guardiola admits there could be touchline fireworks with his old pal Arteta.
“Anything can happen on the touchline in the moments of the game,” said Guardiola. “He’s a rival, of course he is. I want to beat him and he wants to beat me – I know that.
“I know how we both are after a defeat – we are not best friends in the world – but I have a huge respect as a person and as a manager.
“I guess sooner or later it [a bust-up] is going to happen but when it happens it is not going to change the respect I have for him.”
Arteta has been criticised for his high-energy antics in the technical area – including pressurising match officials – and was given a yellow card during during the Gunners’ dramatic win over Manchester United on Sunday.
But Guardiola, who has been involved in a few touchline bust-ups himself over the years, defended his insisting a lot of the criticism is an attempt to undermine the League leaders.
Asked if he thinks some of the flak is borne out of jealousy, he said: “Absolutely. When you are top of the league they have to undermine you for another reason and they are doing that right now. I know this situation quite well.
“I taught him a few things but this [passion] it comes from himself, his mum and dad, his character and that was already there. I know him and I had the feeling during the time we worked together that what he is doing, it is not fake, it is him.
“When we were making a training session and in a game, always he was complaining about referees, and that was as an assistant coach! So after that I am not a judge. Sometimes I behave in this way as well.”
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Guardiola, who appointed Arteta when he took over at the Etihad in 2016, soon noted his new assistant’s enduring love for Arsenal because whenever City scored against the Gunners he would never celebrate. And when the north London giants came calling for him in December 2019 he knew he couldn’t stand in his way.
“I remember when we were together here and we scored a lot of goals, always he jumped and celebrated, except against one team. Against one team every time we scored a goal, I jump and when I came back he was just sitting there. It was Arsenal. In that moment I said that guy likes Arsenal.
“It’s like me. If I was the assistant here and Barcelona called me, I would go to Barcelona. It’s my club.
“I have had many assistants since I arrived here but I felt that as soon as one team can offer him to be a manager he would leave. It could have happened one or two years before but Mikel wanted to leave [when Arsenal approached him]. I was happy for him. Friends of mine have dreams to achieve and who am I to stop them?”
Guardiola believes Arteta would have been the perfect man to succeed him at City – if he had not taken the Gunners job.
“I’m pretty sure if I had left before and he was still here, he’d be the best option, absolutely. But I extended my contract, sorry, and he went.”
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