Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta's Admiration for Pep Guardiola Remains Strong Despite Heated Encounter

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed his admiration for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, despite tensions running high during their recent match. In a top-of-the-table clash last weekend, City needed a last-minute equalizer from John Stones to salvage a 2-2 draw against Arteta's 10-man Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. Despite being runners-up to City in the Premier League for the past two seasons, Arsenal faced setbacks during the match, including Leandro Trossard being sent off before halftime. The Gunners were accused of using time-wasting and committing cynical fouls to disrupt their opponents during the second half. Despite the heated moments, Arteta still holds a strong fondness for his former mentor Guardiola.

City struggled to break down Arsenal despite dominating possession, leading Stones and team-mate Bernardo Silva to accuse the north Londoners of resorting to football's "dark arts".

Arteta, who worked as Guardiola's assistant at City before becoming Arsenal boss, said the controversy would not get in the way of his personal relationship with his fellow Spaniard.

"I love him, I respect him and I admire him, his team and everything that he does," he said Friday, on the eve of his side's match against Leicester.

"This is a sport -- one thing is our profession and the other is our personal relationship.

"If my relationship has to be damaged because we play against each other and one draws or the one wins, or the amount of times that we have lost then I wouldn't talk to him any more."

Arteta was asked by reporters whether it was harder to maintain a friendship when games between title contenders are so ferocious.

"It's quite simple -- don't take it personally, it's part of our job," he said.

"The things that you really care about, make sure you handle them in the right way.

"That relationship, I really care about. It's the same with a lot of people in their staff and players that I spent some very important years of my life with."

Unbeaten Arsenal are fourth in the table, two points behind City, who are top of the pile after five games.

Arteta, whose team meet Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League next week, said he was unsure whether goalkeeper David Raya would be fit to face Leicester after picking up an injury against City.

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"We have to wait 24 hours to see if he's looking good or not that good", he said.

(This story has not been edited by staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)