AFP, London

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta insists there is no rift with his old friend Pep Guardiola ahead of the Gunners’ latest high-stakes battle against Manchester City on Sunday.

Guardiola’s players accused Arsenal of using “dark arts” during a fractious 2-2 draw between the Premier League title rivals in September.

City midfielder Rodri suffered a serious knee injury in the clash, while Arsenal played over half the game with 10 men following Leandro Trossard’s dismissal in a separate incident.

In a heated finale, John Stones scored a stoppage-time equaliser for City, whose striker Erling Haaland celebrated by throwing the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes.

Arteta, who worked as Guardiola’s assistant before taking charge of Arsenal in 2019, responded to City’s aggression by hinting the Premier League champions were no angels.

“I have been there before, I was there for four years. I have all the information. So I know. Believe me,” he said at the time.

Guardiola was believed to have been frustrated with Arteta, saying he should “be more clear” about what he was insinuating.

With second-placed Arsenal and fourth-placed City meeting in a crunch encounter in north London this weekend, there could be more strain on Arteta’s relationship with Guardiola.

But Arteta is adamant he is still on good terms with his fellow Spaniard.

“I was there for four years, so I know how competitive they are. They win and win again. That is what I meant,” he said Friday of the terse exchanges in September.

“If there was a problem, we wouldn’t have been talking on the phone and messaging each other. If not, it wouldn’t happen.”

City have pipped Arsenal to the Premier League title for the past two seasons, adding to the intensity of the rivalry.

But just an hour before Arteta faced the media on Friday, Guardiola had played down talk of a feud between the pair, describing their relationship as “exceptional”.

Arteta echoed Guardiola’s desire to bury the hatchet, saying of the rivalry: “Normal. Two teams trying to win.

“I don’t take anything personally that happens on the pitch. It’s been that way since I was a player. It is full of emotions. We just move on.”

Arsenal cannot afford to slip up against City as they try to close the gap on leaders Liverpool, who are six points ahead of them with a game in hand.

Although Arsenal are unbeaten in six games in all competitions, injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka have threatened to derail their bid for a first title since 2004.

Arteta is keen to sign a new striker before Monday’s transfer deadline, but he would not be drawn on reports that Arsenal have made a bid for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.

“I’m very confident with the work the club is doing and exploring every opportunity that can have an impact on the team,” he said.

“I don’t want to give any assurances. It doesn’t only depend on us, the possibilities are affected by three parties.”