Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that he spoke with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola ahead of Arsenal’s dramatic 1-0 victory over Real Madrid, which secured their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 16 years.
Arteta, a former assistant to Guardiola at Manchester City, said the phone call took place a day before the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Bukayo Saka’s 68th-minute goal sealed a 3-2 aggregate win for the Gunners.
Speaking after the match, Arteta said, “I spoke with Pep yesterday. He’s been here so many times with City, so of course I wanted his perspective. He knows this Madrid team very well and gave me some advice on how to manage the transitions and the pressure moments.”
The two managers share a close friendship, with Arteta often crediting Guardiola for shaping his football philosophy during his time at the Etihad. Their clubs could now face each other in the semi-finals if Manchester City overcome Bayern Munich in their own quarter-final tie.
Arteta added, “He wished me luck and said, ‘Be brave.’ That stuck with me. We were brave tonight, and I’m proud of the boys for the way they fought.”
The win marks a major milestone in Arteta’s managerial career and adds to speculation that Arsenal are emerging as a real European powerhouse under his leadership.
