“Did he say that?!” – Pep Guardiola suggests Mikel Arteta may have information on Manchester City’s 115 charges | OneFootball

In a spiky response to earlier comments from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola has suggested the Spaniard may have information on the club’s charges.

The latest clash between the two clubs has come in light of their dramatic 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium last weekend, when a late John Stones equaliser in the eighth minute of additional time broke a nine-man Arsenal defence and secured a point for the hosts.

That sparked head-to-head scenes at the full-time whistle, with Erling Haaland, Bernardo Silva, Manuel Akanji, and the aforementioned Stones critical of the way Arsenal approached the game as a whole, particularly their execution of football’s ‘dark arts’.

Speaking in reaction to Manchester City’s criticism of the Arsenal performance, Mikel Arteta said during a follow-up press conference, “I have been there (at Manchester City) before. I was at City for four years. I have all the information . So I know. Believe me.”

Speaking during a recent press conference of his own, and when the comments from the Gunners boss were put to Pep Guardiola, the City manager had to double and triple check as to whether the Emirates Stadium coach had actually said what was relayed to him.

“Did he say that? What did he say, specifically? (Journalist: ‘I was there for four years’) Yeah, he’s right. And? (Journalist: ‘Implication was he was at City for four years and I know what goes on there; the same’) Next time, Mikel (Arteta) has to be more clear! (Journalist: ‘You’re not aware of him saying that all?!’) No, next time he has to be more clear, exactly what does he mean, what he said about being here for four years and knows exactly what happens here.”

Guardiola continued, “Because it can be related to all the processes now with 155 charges, maybe it’s about that, he knows information about that maybe, or maybe he has some things that I don’t know.

“Really, next time, he has to say it more clearly exactly what happened. (Journalist: ‘I think he said it on purpose, to leave it hanging?’) Okay, next time, like the good relation I have with him, hopefully this question is asked and he can answer exactly what does it mean.

“What I said, he was here and I know what happens here and still to be clouds there, to be more precise. We text after the game and that’s all.”

Manchester City will continue to focus on their own top-flight business for the coming months this season, before they are reunited with Arsenal in the Premier League in February at the Emirates Stadium.