Mikel Arteta says their rivalry will not affect their friendship

• Mikel Arteta worked under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City
• Arsenal have not won the Premier League in 19 years.
• Manchester City won by five points.

Mikel Arteta worked under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City for three and a half years. The Spaniard says their rivalry will not affect their friendship as they compete for the title. Arsenal have not won the Premier League in 19 years, but lead City by five points.

Arteta worked as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City for three and a half years before taking over at Arsenal in 2019.

Arsenal have not won the Premier League title in 19 years, but they lead defending champions City by five points and have a game in hand.

On Friday, the two sides meet in the FA Cup fourth round for the first of three matches in the coming months.

“I always thought it would be the case one day, and it’s happening this season,” Arteta said of competing for the title with Guardiola.

“That will not impact our friendship, the moments we have, how important he is in my life and in my job.

“We’ve always been willing to win and defend our clubs in whatever way, and that hasn’t changed.

“To be truthful, I’d rather do it with someone else. I honestly want the best for him, but when you’re dealing with someone like this, something gets in the way.”

With Mohamed Elneny out injured, City’s greater depth may yet prove to be the deciding factor in the title race, and Arteta is eager to expand his midfield alternatives.

Leandro Trossard, a Belgian forward, and Jakub Kiwior, a highly regarded young Polish defender, have already been acquired by Arsenal from Brighton in the January transfer window.

The top midfield target of the Premier League leaders is apparently Declan Rice of West Ham, but a transfer for the England international is most likely going to have to wait until the summer transfer window.

“Ideally, we’d like to have some additional midfield cover,” Arteta remarked.

“That’s a difficult thing to do in this economy. The most essential thing is that we acquire the needed performances and playing time with the players we have available today who are already very good.

“If anything more becomes available that can help us improve, we’ll look into it.”

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