Vincent Kompany believes Mikel Arteta has the strength to keep Arsenal’s title challenge on track whatever happens in Wednesday night’s clash with Manchester City. Arteta collides with his old mentor Pep Guardiola at half-time for second with huge ramifications for the fate of the Premier League title. But Kompany believes that if City strike the Emirates, neither Arteta nor Arsenal will be out of what promises to be a battle royal until May.
“He has the energy and especially the flexibility to deal with setbacks and keep going, drawing his own conclusions and improving,” said Kompany. “That’s why I think he’s doing so well for Arsenal.
“And that is why he will definitely continue to do so well, there is no doubt about that.”
Arteta spent three years and five months working under Guardiola when Kompany – whose aim was currently to join them in a battle with Burnley in the Premier League next season – was in his last three seasons as a player.
Noting that Arteta is learning and growing under the best coach in the game, the Clarets boss says the Spaniard’s success at Arsenal is no surprise.
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The other six times they have met have seen the Arsenal manager lose to Guardiola’s City by an aggregate score of 15-1.
And City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan insisted Guardiola’s side were ready to inflict more pain on Arsenal after they rekindled against Aston Villa at the weekend.
“I think with this win, I think we’re ready to go on Wednesday now,” he said. “That’s the goal. We’ll travel to London to try and win the game and get the three points, even though we know it’s going to be difficult.
“It’s going to be a top game and we’ll try to get the three points. We’re playing against the best team in England so far this season, so it’s going to be a top game. They’re a team we know very well.
“We expect football at the highest level and we are all looking forward to it.”
