City manager Pep Guardiola is having the worst moment of his remarkable career after his team blew a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord. This winless streak extends to six games.
The defending champions risk falling 11 points behind leaders Liverpool if they lose at Anfield next Sunday. Guardiola’s disheveled appearance after the draw with Feyenoord, in which he scratched his face several times, has increased speculation that City’s dominance of English football could be coming to an end. However, Arteta was understanding about this and stated: “What they have achieved in nine years is what must be highlighted. Everyone goes through a bump, but the level and the environment in which we find ourselves demand almost perfect performance.” .
Arteta, who worked as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City before taking over at Arsenal in December 2019, expressed his sympathy towards him and all his fellow managers, underlining how unforgiving the football industry can be. “I know how they judge us only by the results, even if you have done the same thing and the result changes. I have been through that and every defeat is very painful,” he commented. He added that we have to put things in perspective and move forward because there will always be another game.
The Arsenal manager was also reserved about the physical condition of defender Gabriel Magalhães, who had to leave the Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon with an apparent muscle problem. Arteta did not give details, but his concern was evident.
