Guardiola Targets Redemption After Humiliation at Arsenal Last Season

Pep Guardiola is drawing a line in the sand ahead of Manchester City’s much-anticipated trip to Arsenal this weekend, warning that his side cannot afford a repeat of the defensive collapse that led to one of last season’s most humiliating defeats.

City were dismantled 5-1 by Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at the Emirates in February — a result Guardiola later described as “under-14s defending.” The Spaniard has not forgotten the performance, calling it one of the low points of a season that saw City finish third in the Premier League and fail to win a single trophy for the first time since 2017.

“The game last season, we started like many times last season, like an under-14s team and gave away a thousand million goals,” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference.

“The last 15-20 minutes were a disaster. We forgot to do what we had to do and made it too easy for Arsenal. This time, we want to compete to be a better team than we were last season.”

Manchester City have had a stuttering start to the current campaign, losing their opening two matches to Tottenham and Brighton before steadying themselves with convincing wins over Manchester United in the league and Napoli in the Champions League. But they enter the weekend three points behind Arsenal and six adrift of leaders Liverpool, making Sunday’s clash at the Emirates a potentially season-shaping encounter.

Adding spice to the fixture is the reunion with Arteta, Guardiola’s former assistant at City. Since taking over at Arsenal in 2019, Arteta has rebuilt the Gunners into a formidable side, finishing second in the league three seasons in a row and turning them into one of the most defensively disciplined teams in Europe.

“Step by step, window by window, Arsenal is getting better,” Guardiola admitted. “Last season in Europe they made an incredible step forward, and for me they are now the most solid team. They don’t make mistakes in the back.”

However, Guardiola could not resist a jab at the narrative that City’s own dominance in recent years has been fueled solely by financial muscle. With a touch of sarcasm, he quipped: “The only thing I want to say to my friend Mikel is if he wins the title, it will just be because he spent money, not because he worked hard or because of his players. The same goes for Liverpool. Because apparently it is only Manchester City that spends.”

The scheduling of the match adds another layer of difficulty for City. Arsenal played their Champions League opener on Tuesday, giving them two extra days of rest, while Guardiola’s men only returned to domestic focus 48 hours earlier after their victory over Napoli.

Key to City’s hopes will be the fitness of midfield lynchpin and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who is easing his way back from a significant knee injury. Guardiola was cautious about his workload, hinting that a late decision will be made on whether he starts. “With him on the pitch, we feel more comfortable,” Guardiola said. “But after coming from a tough injury, we have to be alert. We will decide on Sunday how he feels.”

For Guardiola, this fixture is not just about points, it is about pride, momentum, and proving that last season’s collapse was an anomaly rather than a sign of decline. If City are to keep pace with Arsenal and Liverpool in the title race, they cannot afford another Emirates nightmare.