Pep Guardiola
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola claims that Arsenal have been the “better” side so far this season, despite his team’s early Premier League form. It comes as the Gunners sit top of the division, winning seven of their eight games played so far in a quick start to the campaign. It has led to many suggesting that Mikel Arteta’s men could be competing for the title this season, with other sides making a much slower start. The Spaniard has been much coyer on those chances, though, claiming his side have done nothing but make a quick start so far.
Mikel Arteta said: “I’ll leave that [title talk] to you guys, honestly. We are just at the start, and we are really happy with where we are and understand that you cannot control [everything]. Because emotion is related, and the table says what it says, but it is not something that we look at.”
There have since been plenty of comparisons between the Gunners and the Citizens, with the current Champions sitting one point behind the leaders. They have also been in unstoppable form, yet to taste defeat in the league while their new striker Erling Haaland continues to score goals. Despite that, Guardiola believes that Arsenal have been the better side,
Pep Guardiola said: “In general, we played really good football in all these years. The way we are playing is normal. In six, or seven years, every year we are a little bit better in some terms. But it is just how many fixtures? Just eight or nine games of the Premier League season. In the Champions League, we are in a dream position. We have one game left to qualify. To finish first is important, and in the Premier League, it is about being there. We cannot forget one thing, ladies and gentlemen. There is one team that has been better than us this season, this is the reality. The reality is that Arsenal have been better than us so far. We are not top of the league. It is important to be there and try to fight to arrive there.”
It’s a huge claim from Arteta’s former mentor, especially given how his side have started in a similar vein of form. It remains to be seen who comes out on top, but the early weeks will definitely give Arsenal some encouragement for the challenges ahead.
