Mikel Arteta has Arsenal back in a position they have not been for years, according to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
After serving as Guardiola's assistant for over three seasons, Arteta took the plunge with his first role as a head coach after seeing the managerless Gunners hammered 3-0 by the Blues in December 2019.
There have already been promising signs. Arsenal beat City in the FA Cup semi-finals on their way to winning the trophy in August and they have started this campaign with three wins from four Premier League games and a victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.
Guardiola, who has replaced Arteta with Juanma Lillo, did not have any worries that Arteta would make it and has been impressed by the impact the coach has already had.
"We should clarify who is the master and who is the apprentice," Guardiola started at his press conference. "None of the people who know him had any doubts about what he is doing in a short period of time.
"He settled really well and especially the way his team is playing right now is perfect for the quality they have. He was able to get Arsenal back to the position they were in a long, long time ago.
"He’s doing really well in all competitions. Mikel is a competitor and a fighter and has a clear idea of what to do on and off the pitch. All the people who love him are more than happy with what he is doing in London."
