Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta likens relationship with Man City manager Pep Guardiola to Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal rivalry

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Mikel Arteta likened his rivalry with Pep Guardiola to that of tennis greats Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, insisting that there is mutual admiration between the pair. The Arsenal boss, who worked under Guardiola at City, dismissed talk of mind games. Arsenal take on Leeds United on Saturday, hoping to extend their four-point lead at the Premier League summit.

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Mikel Arteta compared his cordial relationship with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to that of tennis superstars and rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

The pair first met at Barcelona academy La Masia when Arteta was just a teenager, while the Arsenal boss worked under Guardiola at Manchester City for three seasons before taking over at the Emirates.

Since Arteta’s arrival, Arsenal have risen from Champions League qualification hopefuls to perennial title challengers, having finished second to City twice in the past three seasons.

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And with the Gunners aiming to extend their four-point lead over City at the Premier League summit against Leeds United on Saturday, Arteta compared his relationship to Guardiola with that of tennis’ great rivals Federer and Nadal.

The Arsenal boss explained: "For me the surprising thing would be not to [maintain that relationship].

"I think it would be a really bad example for sport. In sport, you have to learn and probably the biggest lesson that sport has given us is the relationship that, for example, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer had.

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"I am not at that level at all. But one of the best [rivalries] in history, or the two best sportsmen. The relationship they have between them when they have to play a final, one against each other [is great], so how the hell am I not going to have a great relationship with someone that I admire, I worked with and is a colleague?

"But it is the same as any other opponent. When it goes to the court, to the pitch, that's for the winner."

Arteta also refuted the suggestion that Guardiola has been using the media to play "mind games". The City boss last week labelled Arsenal the "best team in the world", while he also talked up City’s ability to remain relentless and consistent until the end of the season.

Asked if there was a possibility Guardiola was playing mind games, Arteta replied: "With me? I don't think so.

"We don't talk like with my wife every three days, but we talk generally. He talks about how he feels and that's it.

"If there are mind games, there are mind games, but I don't pay too much attention, because at the end you have to go on the pitch and deliver."

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