Pep Guardiola’s Enlightening Journey: Lessons Learned from Arsenal’s Dynamic Duo
Pep Guardiola claims that two Arsenal players gave him an important lesson when Manchester City won the Premier League.
Manchester United celebrates its fifth triumph in six years in grand style.
During Manchester City’s celebrations on Sunday, Pep Guardiola mentioned two Arsenal players as key members of their Premier League title challenge.
On Saturday, Manchester City were declared champions for the fifth time in six years after Arsenal, who appeared to be pushing City all season, fell to Nottingham Forest.
Guardiola’s team then defeated Chelsea in front of a carnival atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday as they target a historic treble.
The first two weeks of June will see City compete in the first Manchester derby FA Cup final in history before facing Inter in the Champions League final in Istanbul.
Following the return of domestic football after the World Cup, City chased down Arsenal’s advantage, with Guardiola departing from the 4-3-3 formation that had been so dominant throughout his career.
Guardiola lauded crucial players Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji for being able to halt dangerous forwards such as Arsenal talents Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli after the champions converted to a three-man defensive line.
“[Nathan Ake] has been fundamental for us,’ Guardiola told Sky Sports.
“I learnt this season when you play against Bukayo Saka, Vinicius Junior, Gabriel Martinelli or Mohamed Salah, you need proper defenders to win duels one-on-one.
“They need just one action to beat you. Nathan gave us a boost that we did not have in the past.”
