Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola has said that he did not teach Mikel Arteta the touchline behaviour he displays during Arsenal games.
Mikel Arteta understudied Guardiola as his assistant at Manchester City before being appointed Arsenal boss in 2019.
So much has been made of Arteta’s touchline antics, with fans and pundits divided on how the former Spain International conducts himself during games.
Arteta’s emotion is growing game after game as his hope of guiding Arsenal to the Premier League title for the first time since 2004 keeps getting brighter.
The Spaniard was booked in Arsenal’s weekend Premier League game against Manchester United.
Asked about this during his pre match press conference on Thursday, Guardiola admitted he taught his compatriot some techniques during their time together but never taught him his touchline antics.
According to the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss, Arteta’s behaviour must have come from his parents.
“Anything can happen on the touchline in the moments of the game. I taught him a few things but this came from himself, his mum and dad, his character and that was already there.
“I know him and I had the feeling during the time we worked together that what he is doing is not fake, it is him. When we were making a training session and in a game, he was always complaining about referees, and that was as an assistant coach.
“It is what it is. So after that I am not a judge. Everyone is everyone and sometimes I behave as well in this way.”