Pep Guardiola says Mikel Arteta “will just win the title because he has spent” ahead of Arsenal clash | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola is set to face his former assistant, Mikel Arteta, once again in the Premier League this weekend.

Arsenal have strengthened in numerous positions, adding the likes of Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga to their squad and Guardiola believes that if they are to go one step further and win the Premier League, then their spending has played a part.

In a rebuff to critics of his side’s spending, Guardiola said: “I want to say to my friend Mikel Arteta he will just win the title because he has spent. It won’t be because he works a lot, if Arsenal win again it will be because he’s spent a lot of money, right?

“It’s not just Man City that happens to do that. Step by step, window by window, Arsenal are getting better. For me [they are] the most solid tea; they don’t make any mistakes at the back, it’s incredible,” Guardiola added.

In the previous meeting, Arsenal thrashed the Citizens 5-1 at the Emirates Stadium. City’s manager has reflected on that game and wants his team to show more determination in the final stages.

“The last 15-20 minutes [of that game] was a disaster. Hopefully this season we can make a little bit more of a challenge,” he said.

“Mikel (Arteta) is an extraordinary manager and they have increased the squad for four or five transfer windows. It’s an unbelievable squad and one of the toughest opponents you can find right now in Europe,” Guardiola added.

Arsenal and Manchester City are tipped to two of the challengers for this year’s Premier League title, and games like these can mean so much come the end of the season. However, Guardiola is not thinking too far ahead and has referred to some advice he got from Sir Alex Ferguson.

“When I first arrived here, Sir Alex Ferguson said: ‘In the Premier League, after boxing day you have to stay close to the top four.’ After that (Boxing day) you can think about it (winning the league),” Guardiola revealed.

“Last season after Boxing day we were in another country, for the six Premier Leagues [won by Guardiola], I think four or five in December, January, we were behind Liverpool and Arsenal and then we won it,” he said.

“We’re not going to win the Premier League on Sunday, we’re not going to lose the Premier League on Sunday,” Guardiola added.

Rodri was substituted on the 60th minute against Napoli and Citizens were concerned about the fitness of their Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder. Guardiola said his mentality helps the Spaniard: “He is so high in his own self-confidence, he’s one of the greatest players I ever trained in my managerial career.

“He is incredible, so confident in different ways and different how you think. Last season, the best player in the world was Rodri,” Guardiola added.