Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has backed Mikel Arteta to stamp his own style on Arsenal despite comparisons to Pep Guardiola.
The Gunners boss claimed his first victory as a manager on New Year's Day as they beat Manchester United 2-0.
After year's of working under Guardiola, who Bielsa regards as the best manager in the world, there are already comparisons being made between the Manchester City manager and Arteta.
However, Bielsa, who will take his Leeds side to the Emirates on Monday in the FA Cup third round, insists that the Spaniard has his own credentials and is more than merely a copy of Guardiola.
"I think that Guardiola is the best manager in the world and as a great manager, of course, he distributes responsibility to his staff," Bielsa told the media when asked how much impact Guardiola will have had on Arteta.
"Arteta's position on his staff was tough. It was important work, an important job. Arsenal didn't choose him just because he was a member of staff for Guardiola. This is just one fact. He is a person that has more qualities.
"The profile of one person depends on the job you have. If you are a manager, you have more media [attention]; if you are an assistant, you have less.
"When Arsenal play more matches, we are going to see more of the manager.
"In three matches, all he can do is try to get results.
"To make changes, you need a process and to keep doing this for a long time, but I can imagine how Arteta works."
