Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta refused to be drawn on any speculation surrounding Pep Guardiola’s future at Manchester City after it emerged on Monday night that the 55-year-old will depart City after Sunday’s fixture against Aston Villa. City face Bournemouth in midweek before hosting Villa at the weekend, aware they require victories in both matches to maintain any hope of securing this season’s Premier League title.
Anything short of victory over Bournemouth on Tuesday will hand Arsenal the Premier League crown, with Guardiola having implored his squad to take the title race down to the final day of the campaign. Nevertheless, City are poised to say goodbye to Guardiola following a trophy-laden decade at the club. The FA Cup success at the weekend brought Guardiola’s haul to 20 trophies since arriving at the Etihad Stadium, though his exit would have enormous ramifications for City moving forward.
Speaking to Sky Sports following the victory over Burnley, Arteta was pressed on Guardiola’s future and responded: “Once he makes that decision then we can talk about it. Before that, nobody should do it.”
The Gunners boss was questioned whether he would be watching City’s clash with Bournemouth and replied: “I just want to enjoy tonight and then tomorrow we will see what we will do.
“I don’t know, what we have to do is to prepare for the Crystal Palace match in the best possible way. This is the Premier League. We know the quality that Andoni has done and the record that they have right now. Everything is possible.”
Arsenal took a significant stride towards the Premier League crown courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Burnley secured by a first-half header from Kai Havertz.
It could prove a defining end to the season for Arsenal, who seemed to have thrown away their charge for a first league title since Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ in 2003-04, after their 2-1 loss to City on April 19.
However, the Gunners, who have finished as league runners-up in the previous three campaigns, have maintained a clean sheet in their last four league fixtures and bounced back with genuine determination.
They now find themselves perfectly placed to cast off their tag as ‘nearly men’ and hand Arteta just the second trophy of his almost seven-year tenure.
A league and European cup double could be well within reach when they meet Paris St Germain on May 30. Triumph in Budapest later this month would clinch the club’s maiden Champions League title.