Mikel Arteta believes Pep Guardiola is “the best coach in the history of football” and praised his impact on the Premier League.
For the first time since taking over at Arsenal, Arteta will face a City boss other than Guardiola when the two sides meet in the Community Shield on Sunday.
Guardiola left his role as City manager at the end of last season, signing off a trophy-laden tenure with an FA Cup and EFL Cup in his final campaign.
Arteta faced Guardiola 18 times across all competitions, though the former City boss won on 11 occasions (D4 L3), including their final meeting, a 2-1 league win in April.
Nevertheless, the Arsenal manager managed to win his first Premier League title last season, and he did not hold back in his praise for his former colleague.
“I am going to fall short on the way I can praise what he has done,” said Arteta.
“For the Premier League, for the country, I think he has opened a different way of understanding the game. He has escalated the Premier League to a different level.
“We can’t wait to start competing.”
Mikel has seen the hunger within his team ahead of Community Shield clash
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 14, 2026
“He has brought a different standard to the league that we have not witnessed before. I was very lucky to be a part of that and understand and witness how it is done daily, I think it is remarkable.
“For me he is the best coach in the history of football. He will be missed in the Premier League but I don’t know if coaches will miss him.
“I owe him gratitude for the time I was there, it was incredible and I think he has elevated all the coaches and teams to think and to work in different ways and that has made all of us better so it has been a pleasure.
“Now it is Enzo [Maresca], who I know well and he will provide something different to the club.”
Arteta won both of his Community Shield matches as a player (2014, 2015), and has won both so far as a manager (2020, 2023), with both managerial victories coming via a penalty shoot-out.
Arsenal have won all three of their Community Shield matches against City, beating them 4-0 in 1934, 3-0 in 2014 and 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 2023.
