Manchester City Coach Pep Guardiola has heaped praise on Arsenal’s transfer strategy and long-term project under Mikel Arteta, describing the club’s summer spending as “wise” and highlighting their transformation into genuine contenders at both domestic and European levels.
Speaking to the BBC Sports on Friday ahead of a crucial Premier League weekend, the Manchester City manager reflected on Arsenal’s rise under his former assistant, pointing to the club’s methodical progress over recent transfer windows.
“All I can say is they have been wise. They spent what they believe they can to compete against the best teams in the Premier League and Europe, and they’ve reached that level. So he [Arteta] found, I think, a team in that way, a club, and step by step, window by window, step by step, Arsenal is getting better,” Guardiola said.
Reflecting on the 5-1 defeat at Emirates Stadium last season, Guardiola said: “We forgot to do what we had to do, and after that it was easy for Arsenal. The last 15-20 minutes were a disaster. Hopefully, this season we can make a little bit more challenge.”
On whether Rodri is returning to his highest level of confidence since his ACL injury?”Not yet. The greatest players I ever trained in my managerial career, what I see is here [in their head]. Here they are incredible, so confident in themselves, and Rodri is that. But the knee is completely different than how you think. And the knee needs its process. As much as he’s patient with that, and we are patient with him, he will be back.”