Pep Guardiola has joked that he will beat Mikel Arteta in Manchester City's next meeting with Arsenal.
Having worked alongside each other since the summer of 2016, the pair are set to be separated following City's Carabao Cup tie against Oxford United on Wednesday night.
This is because Arteta is poised to become the Gunners' new manager - almost three weeks after the north London outfit parted company with another Spaniard in Unai Emery.
The Man City assistant head coach has been credited for his work since being appointed by Guardiola following his retirement from professional football three years ago.
Understandably, Guardiola would have wanted to keep Arteta by his side but admits he couldn't stand in the way of his compatriot and wished him well at the Emirates Stadium - thus confirming the 37-year-old's return to the capital.
In addition, Guardiola joked that he plans to take all three points when Arteta's Arsenal side visit the Etihad Stadium at the end of February.
"It is a good argument -- why not?" Guardiola said, as per ESPN.
"It is uncomfortable for me. It is a question for Mikel, I am not in his brain. We talk about it a little bit but his feelings are his feelings.
"If he decides to move I'll wish him all the best, for him, his family and for his professional future. I will beat him -- that's a joke!
"He was honest with me, he explained everything that happened, the steps but after that I didn't ask what you want to do.
"I don't want to be involved. I am a guy that [lets] the people live with freedom.
"I said many times, it's the same with the players, if they have other desires or wishes whatever, what can we do? We are not going to tell him, stay, stay stay, if he doesn't want to stay.
"He knows exactly what we think about him, at the club, after that, we cannot do more.
"I think the club has done everything and we cannot do anymore."
