Mikel Arteta dismisses claims he is a ‘mini Pep’ and insists he is ‘very different’ from his mentor

Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on Man City boss Pep Guardiola but insisted that he has developed his own managerial style.

The two Spanish coaches have a long and storied relationship dating back to the late 90s. As Arteta honed his craft as a youngster in Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, Guardiola was one of the Catalan club’s star players.

Following the end of his own playing career, Arteta would take his first steps into coaching, working as an assistant under Guardiola at the Etihad. 

Mikel Arteta has insisted that he has developed a unique coaching style since taking the reins at Arsenal

But with the two now vying for supremacy as managers in the Premier League, the Gunners boss was quick to dismiss claims that he has based his managerial style on his mentor.

‘We are very different as a person and we are very different as a manager.’ Arteta explained in a press conference ahead of Arsenal’s FA Cup clash with the Citizens.

‘That’s probably why we understand each other so well and have the relationship that we have.I had this when I was a player as well because we grew in the same position. 

But the Gunners boss added that Pep Guardiola has been a huge influence on his career

Guardiola was Barcelona captain when Arteta made his way through the club’s legendary academy

‘I have never tried to copy paste anything because I feel this club deserves much better than that and it wouldn’t work that way. Every character and person dictates how they are as a manager and I think we are very different.

‘I feel gratitude because he inspired me as a player and he has inspired me and gave me the opportunity as a coach. 

‘I accept peoples views because I probably wouldn’t have had the career that I had as a player or the understanding of the game if I didn’t have that time with him at Barcelona, and I wouldn’t be sitting here with that love for the game if he hadn’t crossed into my life and given me the opportunities that he has given me.’

But although he downplayed comparisons between their coaching styles, Arteta hailed his countryman’s influence on the sport as a whole, comparing the 52-year-old’s stature within football to that of legendary  Dutch innovator Johan Cruyff. 

Arteta claimed that his mentor’s influence on football is akin to that of Dutch legend Johan Cruyff

‘When I see the influence that Pep has had in football in the last 20 years it is just incredibly power, he changed the game. Like Johan [Cruyff] did in the past, I think that will go down in history.’

When asked what it is that has seen Guardiola enjoy so much sustained success since transitioning into management following the end of his playing career in 2006, Arteta noted the former Barcelona star’s intelligence.

‘His way of thinking. The way he understands the game and his passion for football. It is a lot of things. When you have a personal relationship with someone with that chemistry it takes it to a different level and that’s what happened in my case, especially when we worked together.’