Mikel Arteta makes honest ‘mind games’ admission following Pep Guardiola’s Arsenal comments

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has kept his cards close to his chest when discussing potential mind games with other Premier League head coaches. The Gunners currently sit top of the table, two points ahead of Liverpool in second and three ahead of third-placed Manchester City.

Next up for the north Londoners is a trip to struggling Luton Town, who are languishing down in 17th, only above the relegation zone due to Everton’s ten-point deduction. Ahead of his side’s journey across the capital, Arteta has spoken about his approach to mind games, with the Spaniard remaining his usual coy self.

When asked if he gets into mind games, the Gunners manager replied: “If I am good at mind games maybe you don’t notice.” The question comes just a day after City head coach Pep Guardiola sent a thinly-veiled dig at Arteta.

City drew 3-3 with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, the third successive league game in which the defending champions have shared the points with their opponents. The reigning champions were left frustrated by some of the officiating on the day, with referee Simon Hooper choosing not to play advantage when Erling Haaland played through Jack Grealish on the counter-attack.

“Next question,” Guardiola replied when asked about the Grealish call. “I will not do a Mikel Arteta comment.

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“The referee will now whistle after saying play on, after the pass then whistles. So I don’t know.”

It seems that the former Barcelona boss was referring to last month when Arteta voiced his frustrations with the refereeing during his side’s 1-0 loss to Newcastle United. The Arsenal manager was asked about Guardiola’s comments, to which he replied: “On to the next one please.”