Pep Guardiola has publicly congratulated Arsenal and Mikel Arteta after Manchester City's 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday confirmed the Gunners as Premier League champions. The result ended City's title defence and handed Arsenal their first league crown since the legendary Invincibles season of 2003-04.
Speaking to Sky Sports immediately after the match, Guardiola acknowledged Arsenal's achievement while offering perspective on City's campaign. "On behalf of all Manchester City and my team, congratulations to Arsenal and Mikel, their backroom staff, players and fans for this Premier League. They deserve it," the 55-year-old stated. Despite the disappointment of surrendering their crown, City have still secured silverware this season, clinching both the League Cup and FA Cup alongside maintaining a strong league position.
Guardiola Deflects on Arteta Question
When pressed about the significance of Arteta—who served as Guardiola's assistant at City—winning his first Premier League title as a manager, Guardiola notably sidestepped a fuller response. "That's a question for him, and I'm pretty sure it will be special. He put a lot of effort and work in and… yeah, congratulations," he replied tersely. The exchange highlighted the complexity of their relationship as former colleagues now competing at the highest level.
The draw marked a turning point in the title race. With Arsenal now mathematically uncatchable, City face a transition period that extends beyond the playing field. Enzo Maresca, the former Chelsea manager, will replace Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium next season as the Spaniard departs Manchester after an extraordinary tenure. When questioned about his own future, Guardiola remained coy, indicating he would discuss matters with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak rather than confirming his exit publicly, despite widespread reporting that his decision to leave has already been finalised.
City's preparation concerns were evident in Guardiola's post-match assessment. His side had played three consecutive matches in quick succession with significant travel, while Bournemouth enjoyed a ten-day preparation window. Guardiola felt his team deserved better from disputed decisions, particularly highlighting Erling Haaland's disallowed goal for offside. "They should review that with how quickly the linesman did the job. Normally you're allowed to finish the action and see what happens," he suggested, pointing to the speed of the decision as problematic. Despite creating chances throughout, City could not find a winning goal until too late in the contest, ultimately finishing their title defence on a frustrating note.
