MKel Arteta had questions, many questions. And so the Arsenal manager spoke almost constantly to his assistant Albert Stuivenberg. Arteta questioned and questioned and questioned, covering his mouth with a hand so lipreaders couldn’t tell from the TV images what the Spaniard wanted to know. It was clear what was at stake on that chilly Wednesday night at the stadium in Manchester: how on earth do you go about countering the incredibly strong opponents my team are up against here?
At some point Stuivenberg didn’t know what to do either and stood next to his boss without a word. Arteta didn’t need to be whispered the answer to the crucial question anyway, he saw it with his own eyes – and it was very clear: that evening there were no means against this opponent. Manchester City deservedly won the top game of the English Premier League by a goal 4-1 – and are now favorites to win the title. Arsenal are still two points ahead of the table, but Manchester City have two more games to play.
Painful answers for Arteta
And in the form in which Pep Guardiola’s team is showing on Manchester, it seems quite absurd that they are not booking many of the 21 points that are still possible in the remaining seven games to their own account. Kevin De Bruyne (7th and 54th minute), John Stones (45th + 1) and Erling Haaland (90th + 5) scored for City, Arsenal only managed to make it 1: 3 through Rob Holding (86th). It was the facts of a game that quickly left no two options when asked the winner, yet had so much more to tell, even if the answers were painful for Arteta and Arsenal.
Nobody but the Arsenal coach should have known what to expect, because hardly anyone knows the opposing coach better than Arteta. When Pep Guardiola experienced his heyday as a player at FC Barcelona and set the strategy in midfield, a talent was maturing in the youth team of the Catalan club that was used in the second team at the age of 15: Mikel Arteta Amatriain. The boy from San Sebastián also played in central midfield and so he looked particularly to Guardiola as a role model. However, it was not enough for a deployment in Barcelona’s first team.
Guardiola had vacated his place. Left in disarray, he continued his career in Italy, Qatar and Mexico. Arteta also tried his luck elsewhere, first in France, then in Scotland, again briefly in his native Spain and finally found his place in England at Everton and Arsenal. But he never lost sight of Guardiola, who began his coaching career in 2007 in FC Barcelona’s second team. When he came to Manchester City in 2016 after his time at Bayern Munich, he was looking for a suitable assistant – and found him in Arteta.
Guardiola and Arteta discussed the big and small issues of football together for almost three and a half years before the assistant coach moved to Arsenal as boss. He had long felt ready to try out the ideas he had developed alongside the great teacher Guardiola in a responsible position. That was only partially successful at first, as Arsenal won both the English Cup and the Super Cup in Arteta’s early days, but finished eighth in the league and failed to qualify for the European Cup twice in a row. Was Arteta not as good as expected after all?
The 41-year-old Basque has long since given an answer. After finishing fifth last season, his team has not only been playing football that is well worth seeing, but particularly successful football since the summer. Arsenal have been number one for a long time. The dreams of the first championship title since 2004 under the legendary coach Arsene Wenger matured in London. They didn’t burst, because there’s still a chance, but by Wednesday evening at the latest, a few figures appeared in Arsenal’s pictures that have what it takes for Arteta and his family to soon wake up bathed in sweat and frightened.
One image that should have stuck in my mind was that of the jubilant Erling Haaland. It’s not new, after all, the Norwegian scored for the 33rd time this season, surpassing Mohamed Salah’s record. He had once scored 32 goals in a 38-game season. What was amazing about Haaland’s goal and celebration was that he wore his long blond hair open. The striker had previously missed a few chances before losing his hairband. But instead of losing perspective, he scored in added time and finished Arsenal.
Two who know and understand each other: Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta (right)
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Image: AFP
Before that, however, another stood out: Kevin De Bruyne not only scored two goals, including the first that discouraged Arsenal. The Belgian could hardly be stopped otherwise, at most by fouls. Guardiola was blown away when he spoke about his best man. “If we find Kevin and he can run, he’s unstoppable. Kevin is a master of submission with or without an Erling. Erling is constantly scoring goals with or without Kevin. But together, with space behind them, they are so dangerous.” De Bruyne and Haaland should be the guarantee that Manchester City will win titles this season.
Guardiola’s team still has three chances. Things are looking good in the league, although the manager said Arsenal “are two points ahead of us”. In addition, City is in the cup final against city rivals United. And in the Champions League there is a duel with Real Madrid in the semifinals. These should be exciting games by what are probably the best teams on the continent at the moment. Arteta looked at the former teacher and his team with admiration: “They were in top form, especially in the first half. They were really good.” Too good for Arsenal.
