Pep Guardiola has invited Mikel Arteta to explain his comment about being at Manchester City for four years and therefore knowing what happens at the club. The fall-out from Sunday’s ill-tempered 2-2 draw between City and Arsenal has continued throughout the week,

Mikel Arteta says he loves, respects and admires Pep Guardiola in a clear move to defuse escalating tensions with his one-time mentor. Guardiola told Arteta’s Arsenal to prepare for war amid the fallout from last weekend’s heated draw with Manchester City and the Gunners responded with a last-gasp 4-2 victory against Leicester at the Emirates.

Despite their usually warm relationship, both managers have taken subtle swipes at each other in the wake of Manchester City’s draw against Arsenal.