Pep Guardiola is convinced Arsenal will get much better under Mikel Arteta.
The Manchester City manager worked alongside Arteta for two years at the Etihad, where the pair won back-to-back Premier League titles.
Arteta was linked with the Arsenal job when Arsene Wenger stepped aside in 2018, but remained loyal to Guardiola for another season.
When Wenger's successor Unai Emery was then axed, the Gunners board once again turned their attention to Arteta.
And on this occasion the draw of managing his former club was too much, prompting Arteta to part company with Guardiola and Man City and go it alone as Arsenal boss.
On Arteta's positive start at Arsenal, Guardiola said: "I was convinced he would be a manager when the opportunity comes and this was the opportunity for him.
"His ideas are already in the team, his positional play is getting better. I'm convinced Arsenal will get better."
Guardiola shared a strong bond with Arteta at Man City, and trusted the Spaniard to make key decisions in his role as assistant boss.
Arteta remains in close contact with the serial-winner, and, according to Guardiola, regularly chats to him on the phone about all things football, as well as personal things.
"Very often," Guardiola added, when asked if he still speaks to Arteta. "He doesn't need my help. We talk about everything, family, friends, colleagues, how he's settling the team."
