The Spaniard feels his club’s spending is treated differently to others’ (Picture: Getty)
Pep Guardiola believes Arsenal’s spending spree has not been treated with the same scrutiny as Manchester City’s and says Mikel Arteta is always asking his board for more money to spend.
The two Spaniards go head-to-head at the Emirates on Sunday in a massive clash at the top of the Premier League table, with the Gunners looking to secure their first league win over the champions since December 2015.
Arteta has strengthened significantly in an effort to close the gap to City, bringing in Declan Rice in a £105million deal from West Ham as well as signing Kai Havertz, David Raya and Jurrien Timber.
Guardiola has no qualms with Arsenal spending big to improve their squad, though he feels they have escaped the same level of critique that comes City’s way whenever they splash the cash in a similar manner.
‘Normally when Manchester City bought these kind of [players] for these amounts of money, it’s crazy,’ said Guardiola ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
‘When the other ones do it, how smart they are.
‘But I’m not going to deny that everyone can do whatever they want, I never judge the other one. We are being judged all the time.
Arteta worked under Guardiola at Manchester City (Picture: Getty)
‘But it’s fine. When we were in the middle of the table it never happened, we were not a problem.’
On Arteta, he continued: ‘It is proof that when a club really believes in something and shows patience to the manager, it works.
‘Sometimes you need time. People at the top of the club always have to look at what is being built rather than relying on short-term results to make decisions.
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‘They trusted him and now the results are here as a consequence. Now, Arsenal have a manager for many years. He knows the club, he loves the club. It is impossible to get better than that.
‘And Mikel is a guy so demanding with the board, “Give me money to spend”. He has this talent too. He pushes everyone.’
City can leapfrog Tottenham and reclaim top spot in the Premier League with a win at the Emirates, though defeat could see them drop as low as fourth if Liverpool beat Brighton in the day’s early kick-off.
MORE : Pep Guardiola reveals why Declan Rice joined Arsenal instead of Manchester City
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