Mikel Arteta has offered a calm and thoughtful response to Pep Guardiola’s recent comments about the Arsenal’s transfer activity, following Manchester City’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in September.
The encounter, which saw Gabriel Martinelli score a dramatic late equaliser with a delicate chip over Gianluigi Donnarumma, was one of the early highlights of the Premier League season.
It was a performance that reflected Arsenal’s growing maturity and resilience under Arteta — one that clearly left an impression on Guardiola himself.
Manchester City had taken an early lead through Erling Haaland, who finished off a lightning-fast counterattack to silence the home crowd within the opening 10 minutes.
But Arsenal quickly grew into the match, dominating possession and pinning City back with sustained pressure. The visitors, uncharacteristically cautious, were forced to defend deep as the Gunners pushed relentlessly for a way back into the game.
By the end, Guardiola’s side were hanging on for a point, something rarely seen from a Manchester City team that usually imposes its rhythm on opponents.
The tactical shift did not go unnoticed, even by City’s own players, as John Stones later hinted that the team’s conservative setup was a talking point in the dressing room.
After the match, Guardiola acknowledged that Arsenal were “by far the better team” and admitted that City had been forced to adapt defensively to cope with their intensity.
But when asked about Arsenal’s rapid improvement and their challenge for the title this season, Guardiola pointed to Arsenal’s transfer activity in the market, suggesting that their spending had played a role in closing the gap.
It was a remark that stirred debate among pundits and fans alike — and this week, Arteta finally addressed his former mentor’s comments.
Arteta: “It’s not just about spending”
Speaking in an interview with Marca, the Arsenal boss offered a measured response to the comments, choosing diplomacy over confrontation.
Arteta, who worked as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City between 2016 and 2019, made it clear that he understood the context behind his mentor’s remarks.
“There’s a backstory to that (Guardiola’s comments) and it comes from the number of questions he’s asked about it. And it’s normal that he had that reaction,” Arteta said, as reported by Sport Witness.
His tone was one of respect rather than rivalry — reflective of the deep mutual admiration between the two managers despite their growing competition at the top of English football.
Arteta went on to explain that while transfers play a part in a team’s success, they are not the only determining factor.
“I have a specific opinion about why a team might have more or less chances of winning, and I don’t think it’s just because of the spending on signings, but because of other things,” he said.
“I’m not just saying that; the history of football tells you this with many examples.”
The Spaniard’s comments underline his belief in a holistic approach to team building — one that values cohesion, mentality, and tactical discipline as much as financial investment.
Since his appointment in 2019, Arteta has focused on instilling a distinct playing identity at Arsenal, one built on high pressing, positional fluidity, and collective responsibility.
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That philosophy has been reinforced by smart recruitment. While Arsenal have indeed spent heavily in recent windows — bringing in players like Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and David Raya — their approach has been targeted rather than extravagant.
Arteta and sporting director Edu have focused on signing players who fit the club’s tactical blueprint rather than simply chasing big names.
This calculated strategy is beginning to pay dividends. After eight games, Arsenal sit three points clear at the top of the Premier League, looking every bit like genuine title contenders. Their defensive solidity and ability to grind out results have added a new dimension to their game, suggesting lessons learned from last season’s title run-in, when they fell short in the final weeks.
Guardiola, meanwhile, continues to view Arsenal as one of City’s biggest threats. His comments on their spending were perhaps as much an acknowledgment of their rise as they were an observation on modern football’s economics.
