Guardiola explains how Arteta can make Arsenal title contenders

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Arsenal still have a chance to qualify for the Europa League next season thanks to their win against Liverpool this week. The Gunners are just three points behind sixth-placed Wolves and, if results go their way, they can be among the top six.

However, the most realistic route for Arsenal to make it into Europe next season is through winning the FA Cup. The Gunners face Manchester City in the semi-final on Saturday, where the student will hope to beat the master.

Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola have enormous respect for each other. The duo worked wonders together at Manchester City but it is now time for the Arsenal boss to make it on his own.

The Cityzens have won each of their last seven games against Arsenal in all competitions. If history is anything to go by, that gives the Gunners no chance on Saturday. Yet the City boss is wary of Arteta’s threat.

Guardiola said that there is no better manager to lead Arsenal back to the top. He also claimed that, if Stan Kroenke and Arsenal’s board support him, Arteta will transform the Gunners into title contenders soon.

He told the Manchester Evening News: “They (Arsenal) have something special with Mikel. They have team spirit – how they celebrate goals, how they fight for every ball, they have started to create something special.

“I’m sure the right person to bring them back to the position before is Mikel – there is no better person. I have a feeling he is creating something unique. If he gets support from the club, they will be contenders.”

Will Arsenal’s board back Arteta?

Arsenal fans are very optimistic about the future under Arteta. But the one doubt many of them have is the support he will receive from the people upstairs.

Rumours have been floating around saying that Arsenal will have no money to spend this summer. That is the last thing Arteta would want ahead of his first full season in charge, but it might well be the case.

Arsenal fans will be hoping that Kroenke and co will back Arteta this summer and beyond. The Gunners are far away from being title contenders and yet, with support from the board, Guardiola could well be proved right.