Mikel Arteta sets a record that Jurgen Klopp has not achieved against Pep Guardiola

Mikel Arteta reached a record that Jurgen Klopp has yet to attain, following Arsenal’s draw with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the fifth Premier League matchweek.

Within five days, Gabriel Martinelli again played the role of a “super-sub,” coming off the bench to score and help Arsenal earn a 1-1 draw against Man City, who had taken an early lead through Erling Haaland.

Martinelli capitalized on a pass from Eberechi Eze and unexpectedly shot while Gianluigi Donnarumma was positioned slightly high, equalizing in stoppage time. After the match, coach Mikel Arteta expressed his pride: “The way we played, controlling almost every aspect of the game except the scoreline, was truly excellent. I know how tough it is to face Man City, so naturally, the result is disappointing for us.”

Unlike many of his peers, Arteta boasts an impressive record against Pep Guardiola. He is the first manager in history to remain unbeaten in five consecutive Premier League matches against his former mentor at Barcelona. Moreover, the evening at Emirates was special for Pep as Arsenal dominated the game. According to Opta statistics, Man City held possession only 32.8%, the lowest in Pep Guardiola’s career in a top-flight league match.

The Spanish coach later joked that he had to “endure” playing a defensive, compact style for the first time in a decade. When asked about the possession stats, Pep Guardiola laughed: “I can’t live in this country with another record. But I’m proud of it. Arsenal deserve praise. Once in ten years isn’t bad. I will prove myself again with a different strategy. Now I want to see spirit in training and joy in playing more than just results.”

However, Pep Guardiola’s substitution decision sparked controversy. In the 76th minute, he took off Erling Haaland to bring on defensive midfielder Nico Gonzalez, a move that surprised Gary Neville: “It’s hard to understand, especially defensively.”

After the match, Pep explained: “He had a tough one-on-one battle with Gabriel and Saliba. Eventually, Haaland was exhausted, suffering from back pain, enduring it for several days. The pressure was immense and he needed rest.”

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