Pep Guardiola believes Arsenal will be missing their “most important player” on Saturday in the forced absence of head coach Mikel Arteta, who he believes has the Gunners in the best shape since even before Arsene Wenger retired.
Club great Wenger left Arsenal in 2018 after 22 years in charge, during which time he presided over some glorious times but then also saw the club fall behind the Premier League’s leading lights towards the end.
Unai Emery replaced Wenger but only lasted 18 months before eventually seeing fellow Basque coach Arteta succeed him, the former Arsenal captain leaving his role as Guardiola’s assistant at City in order to take up the job.
Arteta’s win percentage (55.1 per cent) may be no better than Emery’s (55.1 per cent) but he recently celebrated his two-year anniversary in charge and the club appear on course for a largely positive season after an early wobble.
Saturday’s visit of Premier League leaders City comes three days after Arteta tested positive for coronavirus, however.
Guardiola believes it could be a massive blow for the Gunners.
“I would say Mikel maybe is the most important player they have,” the City boss told reporters. “I know his charisma, his ideas and especially the personality to do what he believes to do for the best, for the team or for the best for the club.
“So, no doubt about that. The most important thing we want is for him to stay well, that the symptoms are low as everything is under control and recovering after the protocols, and come back soon.
“And then the place that you love is on the touchline, in the training sessions, but I know exactly which Arsenal is going to play, with Mikel or without Mikel.”
Source: LS
