The rivalry between Premier League giants Manchester City and Arsenal is heating up, with City manager Pep Guardiola firing back at Arsenal’s aggressive tactics in their recent clash. Following a tense 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium, where City midfielder Rodri suffered a season-ending injury, Guardiola expressed his belief that Arsenal is deliberately trying to provoke a ‘war’ between the two teams.
The tension was palpable during the match, culminating in a heated exchange between City’s star striker Erling Haaland and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after the final whistle. Haaland reportedly threw a ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes and directed some strong words at Arteta, urging him to ‘stay humble’.
Guardiola, clearly not one to back down, echoed the sentiment, stating, “Gabriel said it perfectly in the press after the match: this is a war, we (are) here to provoke the opponent, push them. And at the end, what can you do? You provoke me? OK, I’m there. You want a war? Now we war… The type of challenge that Arsenal challenges, I understand it.”
This fiery exchange follows Arsenal defender Gabriel’s post-match comments where he stated that Arsenal was waiting for City to visit them. With both teams vying for the Premier League title, the tension between these two powerhouses is sure to continue as the season progresses.
City, currently leading the table with 13 points from five matches, are two points ahead of Arsenal. They face Newcastle United on Saturday, and the clash is sure to be a heated battle as both sides look to maintain their early season momentum.
