Arteta vs. Guardiola: Who Owns the Mental Game?

Carabao Cup Final: Arteta’s Arsenal Eyeing History Against Guardiola’s City

The 2025–26 season’s first piece of silverware is up for grabs this Sunday as Arsenal and Manchester City lock horns in the Carabao Cup final. The stakes are high, with the Gunners currently sitting nine points clear at the summit of the Premier League and widely tipped to lift their first league title since 2004.

However, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City outfit will undoubtedly back themselves in a one-off final. Beyond the immediate prize, this encounter presents an opportunity to land a significant psychological blow against Mikel Arteta’s side as the domestic run-in intensifies. For Arteta, this final represents the first major hurdle in his team’s ambitious pursuit of a remarkable quadruple this campaign.

As the football world gears up for this blockbuster clash, many are wondering about the historical edge between these two managerial titans. Daily Mail Sport delves into the head-to-head record between Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta since the Spaniard took the helm at the Emirates Stadium in 2020.

A Tale of Two Managers: The Guardiola vs. Arteta Chronicle

Mikel Arteta’s journey from Guardiola’s trusted lieutenant at Manchester City to a formidable manager in his own right has been a captivating narrative. Their encounters have often been closely contested, with both managers learning and adapting from each previous meeting.

Early Encounters and a Taste of Revenge

Manchester City 3-0 Arsenal, June 2020
Following the COVID-19 hiatus, football returned, and with it, the first head-to-head between mentor and apprentice. Manchester City, after Arsenal had David Luiz sent off in the 24th minute, asserted their dominance. Raheem Sterling opened the scoring, followed by second-half goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden, marking a tough return to the Etihad for Arteta.
Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City, July 2020
Arsenal didn’t have to wait long for retribution. In the FA Cup semi-final, Arteta’s side secured a crucial 2-0 victory. Despite City controlling possession for large parts of the game, a brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sealed Arsenal’s passage to the final. They would go on to lift the trophy, beating Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley, the club’s only silverware under Arteta to date.

A Series of Tight Contests

Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal, October 2020
Just three months later, City exacted revenge with a narrow 1-0 win at the Etihad. A first-half strike from Raheem Sterling, pouncing on a rebound from a Bernd Leno save, proved to be the decisive goal in a hard-fought encounter.
Arsenal 1-4 Manchester City, December 2020
Another defeat followed for Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring for City early on, but Alexandre Lacazette equalised for the Gunners. However, City ran riot in the second half, netting three goals in 19 minutes through Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden, and Aymeric Laporte to secure their semi-final berth.
Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City, February 2021
League leaders City continued their impressive form with another tight 1-0 victory. Sterling was once again the difference-maker, scoring within two minutes with a glancing header from a Mahrez cross. This win solidified City’s grip on the Premier League title race.

The 2021-22 Season: City’s Dominance

Manchester City 5-0 Arsenal, August 2021
The start of the 2021-22 season was a dismal affair for Arsenal, who found themselves languishing at the bottom of the Premier League table after a resounding 5-0 defeat. Arsenal conceded twice inside 12 minutes, and Granit Xhaka’s red card further compounded their misery. Ferran Torres bagged a brace, with Ilkay Gundogan, Gabriel Jesus, and Rodri also finding the net.
Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City, January 2022
Despite conceding first at the Emirates, City extended their winning streak to 11 games. Bukayo Saka put Arsenal ahead from the penalty spot, but Mahrez equalised with another penalty before Rodri scored a last-gasp winner to secure a fifth consecutive victory over the North London club.

Title Race Showdowns

Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal, January 2023
City booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round with a solitary goal from Nathan Aké, assisted by Jack Grealish. Arsenal, who were leading the Premier League at the time, put up a spirited fight but ultimately couldn’t find an equaliser.
Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City, February 2023
This Premier League clash was pivotal. City’s 3-1 victory at the Emirates saw them leapfrog Arsenal to claim top spot in the league. Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring, Saka equalised for Arsenal, but second-half goals from Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish sealed the win for Guardiola’s men, giving them a significant advantage in the title race.
Manchester City 4-1 Arsenal, April 2023
In another crucial six-pointer, City dominated Arsenal. After goals from De Bruyne and John Stones, Rob Holding pulled one back for Arsenal late on. However, Haaland’s injury-time strike put the game beyond doubt. This result was a major step towards City’s eventual Premier League title triumph, which they followed up with FA Cup and Champions League glory to complete a historic treble.

A Shift in Momentum?

Manchester City 1-1 Arsenal (4-1 on pens), August 2023
Following the heartbreak of the previous season’s title race, Arsenal responded emphatically in the Community Shield. Leandro Trossard cancelled out Cole Palmer’s opener in added time, forcing penalties. Arsenal triumphed 4-1 in the shootout, with Fabio Vieira scoring the decisive spot-kick. This remains Arteta’s last defeat to Guardiola.
Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City, October 2023
Arteta’s side built on their Community Shield success with a hard-fought 1-0 victory. Gabriel Martinelli’s deflected strike in the 86th minute proved to be the difference. City had chances but were unable to convert, leaving them powerless against Martinelli’s late winner, which took a significant deflection off Aké.
Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal, March 2024
The 2023-24 season saw the first goalless draw between the two managers. In a testament to Arsenal’s growing defensive solidity, City were unable to break down their opponents, a rare occurrence at the Etihad. While a point was secured, it was a missed opportunity for Arsenal in their title pursuit, as they eventually finished two points behind the champions, Manchester City.
Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal, September 2024
The following season’s fixture provided more drama. Haaland opened the scoring for City, but Arsenal, reduced to ten men after Trossard’s dismissal before halftime, fought back through Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel. However, John Stones denied Arsenal all three points with an equaliser in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Arsenal 5-1 Manchester City, February 2025
Arsenal delivered their biggest-ever victory over City. Captain Martin Ødegaard opened the scoring, and after Haaland equalised, Thomas Partey restored Arsenal’s lead. Further goals from Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz, and Ethan Nwaneri capped off a stunning performance, though it came too late to significantly impact the title race.
Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City, September 2025
In the most recent league encounter, Arteta became the first manager to go five league games unbeaten against Guardiola. Haaland gave City an early lead, but super-sub Martinelli rescued a point for Arsenal in the 93rd minute with a looping finish.