Mikel Arteta: What happens to Manchester City is not our problem.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta thinks he is unconcerned about what occurs at championship rivals Manchester City, either on or off the field.
After a 2-1 win over Wolves on Saturday, Arsenal moved two points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Liverpool are their closest rivals after City were held to a tie for the third league game in a row, with Tottenham securing a dramatic stalemate at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Champions from the previous season City will still be in contention at the end of the season, having pipped Arsenal to the title on their way to earning the triple last season.
When asked if he has noticed a drop-off from the City team that swatted away all comers last year, Arteta answered, “I don’t look at those things.” I’ve had enough of gazing at my team. I think about how we’re going to play better tomorrow, be more consistent, and be more tough to beat, as well as the things we need to adjust and how we can best employ our players to win. We still have a long race ahead of us.
“The inspiration comes from watching the team play, how they behave every day, and how hungry and eager they are to approach every training session.” That is the source of my motivation. We have no influence over what other people do.”
In the aftermath of City’s 3-3 draw with Tottenham, Arteta was also mentioned by friend and former colleague Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola refused to comment on Simon Hooper’s decision not to play an advantage late in the game when City came through on goal, claiming he would “not do a Mikel Arteta comment.”
It was a clear reference to former City assistant Arteta, who is currently facing a Football Association punishment after calling VAR’s decision to award Anthony Gordon’s goal in a recent 1-0 loss to Newcastle “embarrassing” and “a disgrace.”
“On to the next one (question) please,” Arteta replied when asked about Guardiola’s jibe.
Asked if he was aware of the sort of mind games Premier League managers have utilised in the past, he added: “If I am good at mind games, maybe you don’t notice.”
Man City’s Etihad Stadium was a scene of outright anger Sunday in the final moments of a wild 3-3 draw against Tottenham after a refereeing mistake denied City a potential stoppage-time winner for Jack Grealish.
The pent-up ire that manifested itself Sunday has been building, though. There was always going to be some sort of comedown after being in soccer dreamland by becoming only the second team — after Manchester United in 1999 — to win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season.
Mikel Arteta: What happens to Manchester City is not our problem.
Pep Guardiola predicted it would happen. Former United players warned it would happen. It’s taken a few months but maybe now it has happened.
It might only be a small drop-off but three straight draws in the Premier League represents the first time since Guardiola’s first year in charge that City has gone through such a run of games in the competition without winning.
First there was a 4-4 draw at Chelsea, then a 1-1 draw with Liverpool and now the draw at home to an injury-hit Tottenham. Next there’s a trip on Wednesday to Aston Villa, which has a flawless home record in the league, and City will be without its irreplaceable midfielder, Rodri, because of suspension along with Jack Grealish (also suspension) and most likely Jeremy Doku, who came off injured against Spurs.
Most teams would do anything to be in City’s shoes right now. However, there are some rising difficulties, and the important area is in midfield.
City has struggled to establish control in the last stages of games, particularly in midfield, where Rodri has been overrun at times, allowing Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham to pass through with no opposition.
The loss to John Stones, who thrives in the hybrid defender-midfielder role, has had a destabilizing effect. City’s decision to replace the departing Ilkay Gundogan with ball-carrying midfielders Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes, who have yet to establish themselves as regulars since their offseason signings, has also robbed them of control.
The Football Association may prosecute Haaland with misconduct for his angry reaction to referee Simon Hooper following the much-criticised decision not to play advantage when Grealish appeared to be through on goal against Spurs.
Then there’s desire, which is intangible. Have City’s treble-winning players shown a drive to go the extra mile in these close games? Focus appears to be an issue, as evidenced by Dias’ sloppy challenge that resulted in the late penalty at Chelsea.
Guardiola will have anticipated this. And he appears to be taking it in stride, dismissing the late controversy in Sunday’s game by stating he learnt from mentor Johan Cruyff that “bad luck in football doesn’t exist.”
“Good teams are not defined by good moments,” stated Guardiola. “This isn’t the first time we’ve encountered a position where we’re playing well but not getting results. We always find a solution, but lately the results have been lacking, and we are struggling.”
Indeed, as late as February of last season, many predicted that City’s title chances were diminishing. Guardiola lacked faith in his core players. Gundogan lamented the loss of a spark.
A few months later, they won the treble after an all-too-familiar end-of-season surge.
Few would be surprised if City went on to retain the league title, but it will need the team to get back to being harder to play through and sturdier at the back.
“We could be four points ahead … if we did our job properly, which is kill the game, or at least don’t concede in the last minute,” City midfielder Bernardo Silva said. “At this level those little details matter. We need to demand more from ourselves, each one of us.”
Villa — with six wins from six at home this season and 23 goals scored in those games — will sense this is the perfect time to host the champions.
