‘We all knew’: Phil Foden raves about Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta

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Manchester City star Phil Foden has hailed Mikel Arteta having seen the quality of the Arsenal boss during their time at the Etihad Stadium.

When City lost Arteta from Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff in 2019, they probably weren’t banking on him turning Arsenal into title challengers.

It has taken a little while – just over three years – but Arteta is now chasing the Premier League crown.

Arsenal sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League table and could beat City to top spot.

That would see Arteta pinch the title off his former mentor Guardiola in quite the turn of events.

Phil Foden raves about Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

Arteta was so well-liked at City that two players decided to join him at Arsenal last summer.

Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko joined Arsenal from City last summer and have played vital roles in the Gunners’ title push over the course of the season.

City players know what they’re dealing with in Arteta and did at least manage to beat his Arsenal side last month.

There are shades of Guardiola’s approach in Arteta’s Arsenal tactics but also some of his own ideas, taking the Gunners to another level.

City star Phil Foden has now offered his view on Arteta as the battle for Premier League title enters it’s final couple of months.

As quoted by The Times’ Henry Winter, Foden told City’s matchday programme that he feels Arteta is a ‘great manager’.

Speaking ahead of facing RB Leipzig, Foden noted that City players ‘all knew’ about Arteta’s methods and approach, praising his ‘great ideas’.

Foden also noted that Arteta knows exactly how City play and has now made Arsenal ‘very strong’ in the battle for the Premier League title.

“They have a great manager in Mikel,” said Foden. “We all knew how he was. Mikel has great ideas and understands how we play as well. He has taken that to Arsenal and they look similar to us and look very strong.”