‘Just Because He Spent Money!’ – Pep Guardiola Issues Sarcastic Message to ‘Friend’ Mikel Arteta in Complaint That Man City’s Transfers Are Judged Differently to Arsenal’s

Pep Guardiola’s Sarcastic ‘Just Because He Spent Money!’ Jibe at Mikel Arteta Ahead of Arsenal Showdown

The build-up to a clash between Manchester City and Arsenal rarely lacks drama. The history between Pep Guardiola and his former assistant Mikel Arteta is compelling enough. Add in the Premier League title race narrative, and sparks usually fly. But this time, Guardiola himself lit the fuse, delivering a sarcastic remark aimed not only at Arsenal but also at Liverpool. His words? That if Arteta or Arne Slot win the title, it will be “just because they spent money.”

It was classic Guardiola—part humour, part mind games, part veiled complaint about the way City’s spending is discussed compared to that of their rivals. And once again, the message was clear: if City are criticised for splashing the cash, then so should others.

Liverpool and Arsenal Spent Freely This Summer

The numbers back up his point, at least on the surface. Liverpool, under new boss Arne Slot, spent around £440 million in the latest transfer window. Arsenal weren’t far behind, adding roughly £250 million worth of talent, with marquee names like Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, and Viktor Gyökeres joining Arteta’s squad.

By comparison, City’s spending was far from modest, but Guardiola is tired of the narrative that success at the Etihad is solely a product of financial muscle. “If Arsenal win, it will be because Mikel spent. If Liverpool win, it will be because they spent. That’s how it works, right?” he said sarcastically.

Behind the irony, though, lies frustration. City have long been accused of buying success, yet Guardiola believes the same logic isn’t applied when others open their wallets.

Manchester City Training Session And Press Conference – UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

Guardiola’s Sarcasm and Subtle Mind Games

It’s worth noting that Guardiola framed the comment as a message to his “friend” Arteta. The pair remain close, having worked together at City before Arteta took over at the Emirates in 2019. But that doesn’t stop Pep from throwing a little verbal spice into the mix before a crucial game.

“Only I want to say to my friend Mikel Arteta, if he wins the title it will be just because he spent, not because he worked a lot or his players,” Pep quipped. Then, almost in the same breath, he softened the blow by praising Arsenal’s progress: “Step by step, window by window, Arsenal are getting better. For me, they are the most solid team. They don’t make mistakes at the back, and they’ve made an incredible step forward in Europe.”

This duality is Guardiola at his best—needle your rival, but also flatter them, so the message is both confrontational and respectful.

Man City and Spending: A Familiar Debate

Guardiola’s words cannot be separated from the broader debate surrounding Manchester City and their financial power. For years, rivals and pundits alike have accused City of buying their dominance. The club has faced charges related to alleged breaches of financial regulations, adding further fuel to the fire.

Yet Pep has always argued that spending is only one part of the equation. Recruitment must be smart, coaching must be elite, and players must buy into the system. He points to failed “big spenders” elsewhere as evidence that money alone doesn’t guarantee trophies.

This summer, however, the tables seemed to turn slightly. Arsenal and Liverpool, long seen as “traditionalists” who develop and build carefully, opened their wallets in a way that mirrored City’s past outlays. For Guardiola, it is a moment of vindication—and an opportunity to highlight double standards.

Arteta’s Arsenal: Built or Bought?

Athletic Club v Arsenal FC – UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

The question then becomes: how should Arsenal’s rise under Arteta be framed? Few can deny the Spaniard has coached his team into one of Europe’s most disciplined and tactically astute outfits. But at the same time, Arsenal have invested heavily to reach this point.

Declan Rice’s arrival for over £100m in 2023 set the tone. Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, and now Zubimendi, Eze, and Gyökeres—all major investments. Arsenal have moved from being challengers to genuine contenders, and that transformation has cost money.

Guardiola isn’t wrong to point that out. But the counterargument is simple: so what? In modern football, you need both coaching and spending to succeed. City themselves are the clearest proof of that balance.

Liverpool in the Mix Too

Guardiola also took aim at Liverpool’s summer spree. Under new boss Arne Slot, the Reds have retooled dramatically, spending more than any Premier League club. Slot’s job is to rejuvenate a squad that had grown stale in Jurgen Klopp’s final years, and early signs suggest progress has been made.

But for Guardiola, the key point was consistency in narrative. If Liverpool go on to win the league, it won’t just be down to Slot’s coaching genius, but also to the investment made. Why, he asks, is that different from how City are judged?

High Stakes at the Emirates

Of course, all this talk feeds into Sunday’s blockbuster clash at the Emirates. City travel to north London knowing the stakes are already high. Early in the season or not, this game feels like a title decider in the making.

Last year’s meeting at the Emirates ended in a 5-1 win for Arsenal, a statement result that left City licking their wounds. Guardiola will be desperate to avoid a repeat. Arsenal, strengthened by their summer signings, look even more formidable this time around.

If City can win, they’ll silence some of the chatter around their own form and reassert their dominance. If Arsenal triumph, the “passing of the torch” narrative will only grow louder.

The Mind Games Factor

Pep Guardiola has always been a master of psychological warfare. His comments this week are as much about unsettling Arteta as they are about defending his own club. By framing Arsenal’s rise as a product of spending, he places pressure on Arteta to justify that investment.

At the same time, he diverts attention from City’s own questions—injuries, squad balance, and early-season inconsistencies. Pep knows how to shape the conversation, and once again, he’s succeeded.

Conclusion: More Than Just About Money

Ultimately, Guardiola’s jibe was more layered than a simple complaint. Yes, he wanted to call out the double standards in how City are judged compared to their rivals. But he also wanted to remind everyone that football success is never “just because” of one factor. It’s about money, yes, but also coaching, culture, and consistency.

As City and Arsenal prepare to collide, the debate will rage on. Is Arsenal’s rise more about Arteta’s coaching or the club’s spending? Does Liverpool’s massive outlay change how their success is framed? And will City continue to be judged differently regardless of context?

One thing is certain: Guardiola’s words have added fuel to an already fiery contest. And come Sunday at the Emirates, the talking will stop, and the football will do the answering.