by Mikel Arteta said he felt sympathy for Pep Guardiola after Manchester City’s poor run of results, but said dealing with setbacks was part of being a manager.
City will look to record a first win in seven matches against leaders Liverpool on Sunday and Arsenal will have the chance to close the gap on Arne Slot’s side at West Ham 24 hours earlier after impressive victories against Nottingham Forest and Sporting. week. Arteta expressed concern for Guardiola’s welfare after City surrendered a three-goal lead against Feyenoord in midweek, but said he expected their rivals to return to form after a spell of long success.
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“It’s something very personal, but I feel a lot of sympathy for all my colleagues because I know the job, I know how ruthless this industry is,” Arteta said. “I know we are judged only on one thing, and that is results, even if you did the exact same thing and the result becomes different. We have to deal with that. I know how difficult it is because personally, I have experienced this a lot and each defeat is obviously extremely painful. And that’s it. Then put some perspective on it like we always do and move on, because there’s always another game.
Arteta, who is waiting to see if Gabriel Magalhães is fit to face West Ham on Saturday afternoon after the defender limped off in the 5-1 win at Sporting, said of City: “What people need to talk about [is] how difficult it is what they have done consistently for nine years. And yes, a bump, everyone has a bump. For them, it is very strange because in nine years they have never had it. But it also tells you the level and the environment we’re in, that everything has to go almost perfectly. The performance has to be perfect, your team’s availability has to be perfect, things have to go your way and the opposition’s way, the level is different and it’s so difficult to win.
