Pep warns Arsenal it’s a mistake to axe Art
PEP Guardiola insists Arsenal would be making a ‘big mistake’ if they decide to sack Mikel Arteta following yet another defeat.
The Gunners were outclassed by City on Tuesday night as the Blues reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals again with a comfortable 4-1 win at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta has not seen his side win a domestic game since November 1, but he opted to make eight changes to the team that lost at Everton on Saturday.
And while his former boss Guardiola made seven alterations of his own, the difference in the respective squads was clear for all to see.
Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Aymeric Laporte all capped recalls with the four City goals, while Alexandre Lacazette had briefly equalised completely against the run of play in the first half.
Arsenal’s back-up goalkeeper Alex Runarsson should have done better with the opening goal and was at fault for Mahrez’s strike as he let a free-kick pass straight through his grasp.
And the decision to start Gabriel Martinelli - just back from a ninemonth lay-off - also backfired on Arteta as he limped off injured.
But, with Guardiola’s former No.2 at City now the favourite with most bookmakers to be the next Premier League manager sacked, the Blues boss has offered his support.
“They will do a huge, big mistake,” he said when asked about whether Arsenal will sack Arteta.
“I’m pretty sure they are going to trust him.
“I understand for the analysts, analyse the results.
“But I was with him many years and I know his incredible quality as a human being and especially as a manager, how he is involved in everything. It’s just a question of time and he will do well.
“I’m not on the Board. For me they will do a big mistake if they are thinking (of sacking him). They give him the confidence, they won two titles when for a long time ago it didn’t happen at this club.
“In this pandemic situation, with injury problems they have – the games they played, always they played good.
“But unfortunately these games is our job and it depends on the results. But football changes in one week so quick.
“I can speak about my experience alongside him, one of the most incredible successful teams in English history we had and he was part of this success and it would not be possible without him, and to create something like this you need time like I had in my first season.”