- Pep Guardiola praised Arsenal as one of Europe’s best teams despite Manchester City’s 2–1 win
- He said Arsenal were “so competitive” and extremely difficult to beat in all phases of the game
- Guardiola credited his players for their victories, highlighting the intensity of the Premier League title race
Pep Guardiola has once again spoken highly of Arsenal, describing them as one of the strongest teams in Europe, even after Manchester City secured a 2–1 victory over them on Sunday.
City are preparing for a crucial Premier League fixture against Burnley on Wednesday night, a match that could see them move above Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table. Despite the competitive stakes, Guardiola chose to focus his remarks on the quality of their title rivals.
Speaking ahead of the Burnley clash, the City manager praised Arsenal’s consistency, intensity and tactical versatility, stressing that his side had to work extremely hard to overcome them.
“When I’m on the sideline and see Arsenal, I give incredible credit that we’re there,” Guardiola said.
“It’s a top team, a contender to win the Champions League, top of the league. You have to sweat, sweat, fight a lot to beat them – they have everything!”
Guardiola highlighted Arsenal’s all-round strength, noting their ability to adapt to different phases of the game. He praised their technical play in possession, their aerial strength, and their effectiveness in set-piece situations.
“They’re so, so competitive, mentality, many, many good things they do really well,” he added.
“When they play short, they play well. When they play long, they win the long ball, second ball. Set-pieces, it’s a nightmare.”
The Spaniard also reflected on City’s recent success against Mikel Arteta’s side, emphasising the importance of those victories in the context of the title race.
“That’s why I give a lot of credit to compete with them, against them, and the last two times beat them. I give a lot of credit to these players, a lot. They know it, they feel it!”
Guardiola’s comments underline the respect between both sides, who remain key contenders in this season’s title race. With the campaign entering a decisive stage, every meeting between the two clubs carries significant weight in the battle for domestic supremacy.
Guardiola reacts to CAF decision as Morocco handed AFCON 2025 title
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed surprise following the controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football to overturn the result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final and award victory to Morocco.
CAF’s Appeal Board earlier this week ruled against Senegal after their 1–0 win in the final was nullified. The decision came after Senegal’s national team, the Senegal national football team, walked off the pitch in protest over a stoppage-time penalty awarded to Morocco.
The governing body determined that the protest constituted a breach of Articles 82 and 84 of its regulations. As a result, the match was officially recorded as a 3–0 forfeit in favour of the Morocco national football team, effectively handing them the continental title.