Pep Guardiola has defended under-fire Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and admitted that a mistake by their goalkeeper Alex Runarsson heavily influenced last night’s League Cup defeat.
The Gunners were eliminated at the quarter-final stage as City cruised to a 4-1 win at the Emirates Stadium, scoring three second-half goals.
Guardiola’s side moved into a 2-1 lead early in the second half when the Arsenal keeper allowed a Riyad Mahrez free kick to squirm through his gloves.
And the Spanish coach has admitted that was a big factor in the victory.
He told City’s official website: “You have to be professional; you have to run a lot. The second goal was the goalkeeper situation, the third was maybe offside. These situations changed the game.”
Arsenal’s defeat does nothing for Arteta, whose side are 15th in the Premier League and a heavy loss to the Citizens doesn’t help his situation in the least.
But Guardiola, who had the Gunners boss as his number two at the Etihad, has warned the North Londoners that his former protege is ‘incredible’ and that sacking him would be a mistake.
He added: “He is an outstanding manager, an incredible work ethic and puts the club before himself. I am not here to defend him, because he can defend himself perfectly on and off the pitch.”
It gets no easier for Arteta, whose troops are home to Chelsea on Boxing Day and with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s fitness up in the air, and Gabriel Martinelli going off injured last night, it’s difficult to see their fortunes changing against the Blues.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
