Pep Guardiola used irony ahead of Arsenal vs Manchester City, highlighting the huge spending by Liverpool (€484M) and Arsenal (€293M) compared to City (€206M).
In the build-up to Sunday’s highly anticipated clash between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium (4:30 p.m.), Pep Guardiola has once again shown his flair for irony, shifting the narrative around money and success in the Premier League.
The match is not only one of the headline fixtures of the fifth round but also a symbolic test of strength between two of the strongest contenders for the title this season.
The debate over money in football, particularly in England, is hardly new. For years, Guardiola and Manchester City have been accused by rivals and pundits alike of buying success. The club’s vast financial resources, underpinned by the Abu Dhabi ownership, have often been framed as the decisive factor behind their domestic dominance. Yet this summer, the tables turned somewhat. Liverpool, under new manager Arne Slot, shattered the English transfer record twice and spent a staggering €484 million in a single transfer window assembling a squad that is now widely considered one of the deepest in Europe. Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, were less extravagant but still spent €293 million, once again outspending Guardiola’s City, whose summer bill came to €206 million.
With those figures in mind, Guardiola was quick to poke fun at the familiar criticism he himself has faced. With a knowing smile, he suggested that if either Arsenal or Liverpool lift the Premier League trophy come May, it will only be because of the money spent echoing the same accusations that have followed him throughout his tenure in England.
“The only thing I want to say to my friend Mikel Arteta is that if he wins the title, it will have only been because he spent [money], not because he worked hard or because of his players,” Guardiola said in his press conference. “It’s the same with Liverpool. If Arne [Slot] wins again, it will only be because he spent a lot of money, right? Because that doesn’t just happen with Manchester City, does it?”
The Catalan coach, however, wasn’t only making a sarcastic point. He acknowledged the intelligence of both clubs in their transfer strategy and praised the level of competition now present in the league. “Clubs can do whatever they want. I know the way they have been treated is completely different, but if they want to spend money it’s because they can, and that’s fine. I can only say they’ve been smart. They spent what they believed they could spend to compete with the best teams in the Premier League and in Europe, and they’ve reached that level. Arsenal keep getting better and made a big step forward in Europe last season. For me, they’re the most solid team, they don’t make defensive mistakes, and they have speed up front. Every team is improving, and we know the quality they all have.”
Guardiola’s words come at a time when the rivalry between these clubs feels sharper than ever. Arsenal, who pushed City to the wire in the title race last season, have grown into a side capable of competing with Europe’s elite. Their performances in the Champions League last year confirmed their progress, and Arteta’s squad appears more balanced than at any point in his tenure. Liverpool, meanwhile, have undergone a transformation under Slot, combining fresh investment with tactical renewal after the end of the Jürgen Klopp era.
For City, the challenge is not just external. Guardiola knows his team are still recovering from a draining start to the season. Their recent 2-0 win over Napoli in the Champions League was a statement of quality, but it also left the squad with only 66 hours to recover before facing Arsenal. The contrast in schedules is stark: Arsenal played on Tuesday and have enjoyed two extra days of rest. Guardiola, never one to miss the chance to inject humor into a tense situation, responded with a tongue-in-cheek plan.
“We’re going to go for a walk in the mountains, that’s what we’re going to do these two days,” he joked. “I don’t know, Friday is recovery. The players have many injuries and they’re going to rest, rest, rest, and recharge their energy for Sunday.”
But beneath the humor lies a serious concern. City’s demanding fixture list has already taken its toll, with several key players nursing injuries. The squad, while still rich in talent, may not have the same freshness or sharpness as their rivals. Guardiola himself admitted that his team must improve their concentration and intensity in the final stages of matches something that was exposed brutally in their last meeting with Arsenal, a crushing 5-1 defeat.
The stakes could hardly be higher. Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League table, level on nine points with Tottenham and Bournemouth, trailing leaders and reigning champions Liverpool by three points. City, surprisingly down in eighth, are already playing catch-up. Early as it may be, Sunday’s clash could have significant implications for the title race. A victory for Arsenal would strengthen their claim as genuine contenders, while a win for City would reassert their authority and ease growing questions about whether this could finally be the season their grip on English football is loosened.
For Guardiola, the match is more than just three points. It is another chapter in his ongoing duel with Mikel Arteta, once his assistant at City and now one of his fiercest rivals. It is also a chance to remind the footballing world that City’s success has never been solely about spending, but about consistency, tactical brilliance, and the ability to rise in the moments that matter most.
As the countdown to kickoff continues, the narratives are already in motion: money versus merit, rivalry versus respect, freshness versus fatigue. Guardiola has chosen to defuse the pressure with irony, but come Sunday, the answers will be written on the pitch.
