Man City's Guardiola: Arsenal's Arteta must explain insider information claim

Pep Guardiola has dismissed Mikel Arteta's claim that he has inside information about Manchester City by demanding the Arsenal manager explain himself.

Arteta was asked on Tuesday to respond to City players' complaints about Arsenal's use of “dark arts” during their 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

The Arsenal coach, who was Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad between 2016 and 2019, gave a cryptic answer: “I was there for four years. I have all the information, believe me.”

The conclusion was that Arteta knows City are using the same tactics, but when the quotes were directed at Guardiola he said his counterpart should be “clearer”.

“Did he say that?” said Guardiola.

“Next time he needs to be clearer about what exactly that means? He said he was here four years and we know exactly what happened here because it can now be linked to 115 charges in the entire trial; maybe that's why. He may know information about it.

“Hopefully that question has been asked. He can answer exactly what it means when he said he's here and I know what's happening here and instead of being there in the clouds.” [points above him] to be more precise.

Relations between the two clubs have soured as they have dueled for the last two Premier League titles, although Arteta said in his press conference on Friday that the rivalry would have no impact on the personal relationship between the two coaches.

The game at the Etihad threatened to boil over at various points and cameras watched Erling Haaland throw the ball at Gabriel's head after John Stones' stoppage-time equaliser.

However, Guardiola says he doesn't mind if a rivalry turns into a “war” on the pitch.

“I would say that sometimes the emotions are so high. Gabriel said it perfectly in the post-match press conference, so this is a war, we have to provoke the opponent, push them and in the end what we can do?

“So, we have to, okay, you provoke me, okay, I'm here. Do you want a war? Now we are at war. I understand the kind of challenge Arsenal are facing.”