Journalist Lynsey Hooper has highlighted the significant influence of Pep Guardiola on Mikel Arteta’s coaching style, noting that the Arsenal manager frequently mirrors his mentor’s tactics. On the Seaman Says podcast, Hooper suggested that while following Guardiola’s methods could bring success, it might also limit Arsenal’s ability to outwit Manchester City. She explained, “You don’t want to always be playing catch-up to Pep. When Pep tries something, Arsenal then follow suit… But to beat Pep at his own game, you need to do something different.”
Hooper’s perspective is reasonable. For instance, Oleksandr Zinchenko’s move into midfield, a tactic first seen at Manchester City before his move to Arsenal, has become a key part of Arteta’s system. Similarly, Arteta’s recent decision to field an all-central defender backline, like in the match against Burnley, reflects Guardiola’s usual strategy.
However, not all of Arsenal’s tactics are copied from City. Arteta’s innovative use of Kai Havertz as a left-sided No. 8 in possession, while switching to a target man role off the ball, is a distinct approach. While Arsenal hired City’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, their success in this area shows their own growth, not just imitation.
Given that both managers have a shared Barcelona coaching background and have worked together before, it’s natural that their methods would overlap. Yet, some of Arteta’s tactical choices could be original. Moreover, Arteta has already beaten Guardiola twice this season, suggesting that his approach isn’t simply a copy of Guardiola’s.
