Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has dismissed Pep Guardiola’s assertion that the Gunners currently represent the premier force in global football. Ahead of Manchester City’s weekend fixture against Wolves, Guardiola labeled the North London side the “best team in the world,” citing their flawless Champions League run and seven-point cushion at the top of the Premier League.
However, Arteta swiftly downplayed the high-profile compliment during his own media briefing prior to Sunday’s heavyweight clash against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.
The Arsenal boss insisted that his squad remains a work in progress and lacks the silverware necessary to justify such a prestigious title. Despite an impressive twelve-game unbeaten streak and a recent 3-1 victory over Inter Milan, Arteta maintains that “perfection” remains a distant goal for his young team. He emphasized that sustained success and multiple major trophies serve as the only true benchmarks for world-class status—achievements the Gunners are still pursuing.
While appreciative of the positive recognition, Arteta remains focused on the immediate challenge posed by a revitalized Manchester United under interim manager Michael Carrick. Arsenal currently leads the domestic title race but faces a demanding schedule across four competitions. The manager’s humble stance underscores a “one game at a time” philosophy as the club seeks its first league title in over two decades.
Mikel Arteta addressed the comments with characteristic modesty: “I don’t know. I think we’re the team that wants to be constantly better, that were doing a lot of things right, but we’re far from perfect. To be related to that [best team in the world], you’ve to win a lot of things [trophies] and we’ve not.”
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