“Put a chain and say, ‘No you don’t leave’?!” – Pep Guardiola hits back at critics of Man City decision to let Mikel Arteta leave

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hit back with a strong response to questions over the club’s decision to let Mikel Arteta leave for Arsenal in 2019.

The two managers go head-to-head for the first time this season on Friday night, in the middle of an intense pursuit of the Premier League title, with their first meeting coming in the FA Cup fourth round.

Arteta knows Manchester City all too well, having worked under Pep Guardiola during his time at the Etihad Stadium as an assistant coach during their two Premier League title-winning campaigns of 2017/18 and 2018/19.

Ahead of the clash between the two coaches at the Etihad Stadium this week, Pep Guardiola has been asked as to whether there are any questions being asked as to why the club decided to let Mikel Arteta leave the side for Arsenal.

It is a subject Pep Guardiola certainly feels strongly about, as the City boss responded, “Mikel wanted to leave! What do you want me to say? Put a chain here (on his wrist) and say, ‘No you don’t leave!’”

He continued, “I’m so happy for him because I have massive respect.”

Guardiola also took issue with the timing of such questions surrounding Mikel Arteta’s departure from Manchester City, suggesting that such topics have only come about as a direct result of his counterpart’s success at the Emirates Stadium this season.

“This question, (why not ask it) in a previous season when they didn’t win, ‘Why did you let Mikel leave?’ Now it’s easy because they have 50 points (in the Premier League). It’s before that you have to tell me, ‘Why did you let Mikel leave?’, When they were not qualified for the Champions League, or they were not there (competing for the title) Tell me then! Not now.

“It’s the same person, the same manager, the same everything. I’m sorry, but I’m a completely different person.

“Friends of mine, or people there, they have dreams to achieve because they want to do it. Who am I to avoid them of that? Who am I? I’m not, because after this guy cannot behave the best he can. It’s as simple as that.”

Manchester City currently trail Arsenal by five points in the Premier League table, with the Gunners also holding a game in hand on their title rivals. With meetings in the league at both the Etihad Stadium and Emirates Stadium, there is however still a long way to go before a clear favourite for the crown emerges.

One thing is for certain however, that any dreams of winning three trophies this season will come to an end for one of the Premier League’s high-flyers at the fourth round stage of the FA Cup.