The new Gunners boss is wary of just copying what his former mentor has done in Manchester.
Arsenal director Mikel Arteta has stressed he will not simply”copy and paste” Pep Guardiola’s approach to Manchester City.
Having worked as a helper to Guardiola in City, Arteta has quickly been compared to the prior Barcelona and Bayern Munich trainer as he seems to find the Gunners playing attractive football again.
While Arteta’s favorite style of play is somewhat like what Guardiola has set up in Manchester, the Arsenal boss has stressed he’s taking a unique, tailored approach to his job.
“It is a very different context with the scenarios at City and Arsenal,” Arteta said.
“You need to be about every character and individual. Everybody feels things in different manner. If you copy and paste, it’s always bad.”
Arteta’s Gunners have won their previous three Premier League games and traveling to the Etihad on Wednesday to take on Guardiola’s City.
While Arteta is determined to forge his own managerial path at the Emirates, he was quick to commend Guardiola’s daring managerial style and the Spaniard’s ability to give his players the confidence to adhere to a system of play.
“He wants to take more risks and would like to play the way he wants and it doesn’t matter what, he’ll keep that line,” Arteta added.
“I never heard a participant doubt ‘can we play like this, or if we play like this?’ They’re so convinced as he doesn’t leave a single drop of a doubt what has to be done.”
Arsenal are now ninth in the Premier League with victory on Wednesday crucial to maintaining their top-four hopes firmly living.
City, meanwhile, are 25 points shy of league leaders Liverpool but are close to wrap up second place with third-place Leicester City four points back with played an additional game.
Guardiola’s side were defeated 2-0 by rivals Manchester United on Sunday and they will be desperate to bounce back fast before next week’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid.
City maintained a 2-1 away victory in the first leg with Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne finding the back of the net in Spain later Isco had originally handed Zinedine Zidane’s side the lead.
