Mikel Arteta did not hold back in his praise for Pep Guardiola, calling him “the best manager in the history of football” and highlighting the “remarkable” and “unique” impact his former mentor has had on the Premier League. This statement comes ahead of the Community Shield, where Arteta and his team, Arsenal, will face Manchester City, now under the leadership of Enzo Maresca, this Sunday in Cardiff.
Guardiola left Manchester City at the end of last season after a decade of success, with Maresca now beginning a new era at the club. Arteta, who worked alongside Guardiola for four years on the City coaching staff before taking charge of Arsenal in 2019, reflected on the departure of the Spanish manager. “I will probably fall short in how I can praise what he has done,” Arteta said. “He opened a new way of understanding the game and elevated the Premier League to a different level.”
The Arsenal manager also emphasized that Guardiola brought standards to football that had never been seen before. “I was lucky to be part of that for four years and to understand how everything is done on a daily basis. It is remarkable, it is unique,” he added. Arteta acknowledged that Guardiola's success has extended across various leagues and countries, but he highlighted the difficulty of maintaining such a high level for so long.
The former assistant to Guardiola stated: “He has done this in many countries and leagues, but in a really consistent and sustainable way, which is the hardest thing to achieve.” Arteta did not hesitate to assert that he considers Guardiola the greatest manager of all time for several reasons. Guardiola's influence has not only shaped his journey but also raised the standards among managers in the Premier League. “I think he will be missed in the Premier League – I don’t know if we, as managers, will miss him as much!” he joked.
The Arsenal manager expressed his gratitude for the experience he had alongside Guardiola, acknowledging the positive impact he had on his own career. “I appreciate the time I spent with him, which was incredible,” said Arteta. “He elevated all the managers and teams to work in different ways, and we all became better. It was a pleasure.”
With Guardiola's departure marking the end of an era at City, Arteta welcomed the appointment of Maresca, expressing confidence that his former colleague will bring something new to the club. “Now it’s Enzo, who is as good as him because I know him well. He will provide something different to the club and I wish him the best,” concluded Arteta.
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