Pep Guardiola reveals texts to Mikel Arteta following Man City and Arsenal controversy

Pep Guardiola claims he has texted Mikel Arteta and they are still pals after Sunday’s explosive fixture at the Etihad.

City’s players laid into Arsenal, accusing them of excelling in the dark arts after their 10-men were only denied victory by John Stones ’ 98th-minute equaliser. Guardiola claimed after his side’s Carabao Cup win over Watford that it is up to Arsenal to play their style and down to City to combat it.

“The opponents can play how they want to, it’s up to us to handle them,” said the City boss. "With Mikel, we texted each other. The relationship, it doesn’t change.

“If they decide to play in that way, it’s more than perfect. It’s fine. I wasn’t able to do that, but they were brilliant. It’s about us, how we can break them down and we did it really well in many things.

“It’s not the first time in eight years here. Do you know how many times we’ve played against teams that play that way? Millions, millions. It’s about us, that’s why it’s a challenge for us.”

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The fall-out from Sunday, including Rodri’s serious knee injury, overshadowed Tuesday night's match and City were strolling to victory before Watford scored four minutes from time.

Matheus Nunes netted City’s second with his first goal on his 34th appearance for the Blues to the delight of Guardiola. Nunes cost £53million from Wolves a year ago and Guardiola said: “He has a special quality that few players have, he’s unique.

“I’m really pleased for him and sometimes it’s not easy for new players to adapt.”

Watford boss Tom Cleverley was pleased by the character his side showed after losing 4-1 to Norwich on Saturday and conceding early. They showed backbone and we pushed the best team in the world all the way,” he said.

Watford’s suicidal defending didn’t help them in the fifth minute when they passed the ball in their own box, inviting City to nick it and score the first goal. James McAtee nipped in and pulled the ball back for Jack Grealish, who squared it for Jeremy Doku to fire home right-footed.

Guardiola handed Kaden Braithwaite his debut at left-back and the teenage defender became the club’s third youngest player at 16 years and 229 days. Braithwaite was solid and he was given an unceremonious introduction to senior football when Kwadwo Baah shoved him off the ball before scoring, only for the strike to be disallowed for a foul, which Cleverley disputed.

Normal service was resumed and City scored their second on 38 minutes when Rico Lewis fed Nunes on the edge of the box, who shot home left-footed. City went close to a third when Nunes’s shot saved by Jonathan Bond and Savinho’s effort was headed off the line by Tom Ince.

Savinho then hit the far post following a lightning break down the right before Bond denied Grealish. Watford scored on 86 minutes when Ince curled a beautiful left-foot shot into the far corner from the edge of the area to give the scoreline a flattering look.

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