Manchester City managerial candidate highlights key similarity between Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta | OneFootball

Bayern Munich manager and former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has stated that relentlessness is a key similarity between Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.

The Belgian manager partook in a mammoth clash between two footballing giants as Bayern Munich travelled to the Emirates Stadium in a tough away trip against Arsenal on Wednesday evening.

Kompany saw his side fall to a 3-1 defeat in the London downpour courtesy of goals from Jurrien Timber, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli – which secured the Gunners a huge three points and maintained their perfect record in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League group-stage campaign.

Arsenal and Bayern Munich entered the clash with a perfect record of 12 points each. In addition, these two footballing machines boasted a +11 goal difference and have been in excellent domestic form, sitting handsomely at the top of their respective league tables.

However, Arteta got the better of Kompany as the Gunners, despite having less of the ball on the night, put on an impressive display, producing a relatively comfortable victory in the English capital.

They may have conceded their first European goal of the campaign against the Germany champions but it did not seem to faze them as they fought to eventually earn an invaluable win.

Kompany spent 11 successful, trophy-laden years at Manchester City and during that illustrious period, the Belgian found himself under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola and Arteta, with the latter being the former’s assistant coach from July 2016 to December 2019.

Both Arteta and Kompany, therefore, have been influenced by Guardiola, having worked alongside him in some capacity. Speaking to TNT Sports in the days leading to his side’s defeat to Arsenal, Kompany cited particular aspect of Arsenal’s philosophy he believed was taken from Guardiola.

“What I think Mikel has taken most from Pep, from what I’ve seen so far – and eventually he’ll have the trophies, I’m sure – is the relentlessness of the way the team’s set up, every phase,” Kompany said. 

“Also, the amount of pushback he’s had over the years and the calmness of how he just went through it and became stronger and stronger. It’s impressive and that’s why I’m looking forward to the game, to be honest.”

Kompany has been strongly linked with replacing Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium when the 54-year-old’s current deal expires in 2027, with no indications of contract renewal talks between the club and the Catalan at present.

There have been murmurs in the English press in recent months that those close to Guardiola believe this could be his final season in Manchester but the former Barcelona boss is highly unlikely – by all accounts – to dishonour his contract, owing to the respect he has for the club’s hierarchy and with Manchester City being in a nascent stage of a period of transition.