Arsenal manager turns to former mentor in historic run to Champions League semi-finals
![By JOE BRAY MIKEL Arteta sought advice from Pep Guardiola hours before leading Arsenal to one of their greatest European results, knocking Real Madrid out of the Champions League at the Bernabeu. Having stunned Carlo Ancelotti’s defending champions in a 3-0 win last week at the Emirates, the Gunners were heavy favourites heading into the Champions League quarter-final second leg – but Real’s history of unlikely comebacks meant the tie was still far from over. Madrid knocked City out in a convincing play-off round display which included a late comeback at the Etihad Stadium, but they were awful on Wednesday night and Arsenal thoroughly deserved their 2-1 win. It was a 5-1 aggregate success that tees up a semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain and unlocks more prize money for Arsenal as they look safe with securing a Champions League place for next season. And Arteta revealed he called old friend Guardiola ahead of Arsenal’s second leg this week to thank him for his role in shaping his career. “I called him this morning because I am here thanks to him,” Arteta said. “As a player and a coach he has been an inspiration to me. “I had four amazing years with him, and I will always be grateful to him.” Arteta and Guardiola have kept their relationship somewhat distant as they have been embroiled in title races recently with City and Arsenal, but retain a strong friendship away from the Premier League rivalry – although Arteta annoyed Guardiola earlier this season when claiming he has “all the information” on City’s tactics. Guardiola challenged Arteta to “come down from the clouds” and be clearer in what he meant. And Arteta then sought to calm tensions by saying: “I’ve admired him since I was 10 years old. I respect him profoundly. I’m so grateful for everything he did for me and continues to do for me. “If someone wants to damage the relationship, that’s not in my hands. The feeling [of affection] is profound. [Guardiola] knows it, the staff know it because I still [speak] with them today, and with the board, the ownership – with everyone.” Arsenal’s win over Madrid pockets them a further £12.88m in Champions League prize money to take their total performance-related winnings to £68.5m including a £16m participation fee. They will add a further £15.89m by reaching the final, while all clubs are also entitled to a share of £705m based on European and Worldwide broadcast markets, decided on club and country coefficients for performance over the last ten years. City earned £26.5m from their disappointing Champions League campaign before learning how much they could add from the broadcast pot.](https://dailycannon.com/static/uploads/1/2025/04/250418-manchester-evening-news-artea-guardiola-real-madrid2-e1744969343485.png "Arteta explains why he phoned Pep Guardiola again before Real Madrid 2")
Mikel Arteta reached out to Pep Guardiola for advice not once but twice across Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid, drawing on the experience of his former mentor to mastermind one of the club’s greatest European triumphs.
Arsenal defeated Carlo Ancelotti’s defending champions 3-0 in the first leg at the Emirates, a performance Arteta admitted came after speaking to Guardiola in the build-up. But ahead of the return leg at the Bernabeu, the Arsenal manager called again.
“I called him this morning because I am here thanks to him,” Arteta said after Wednesday night’s 2-1 win in Madrid. “As a player and a coach he has been an inspiration to me. I had four amazing years with him, and I will always be grateful to him.”
Arteta, who had never faced Real Madrid in a competitive fixture before this tie, leaned on Guardiola’s deep knowledge of the opposition. Manchester City have played Madrid 10 times in the last five years, including a two-leg playoff earlier this season, while Guardiola has faced them 27 times in total as a manager.
“I have learned a lot from him,” Arteta said before the first leg. “From professional and personal situations. In the last few days, we’ve talked, because I felt like talking to him. And I think he also wanted to talk to me because he is very happy about the good things that happen to us. Learning from the best and those who have had experiences, I think it’s a thing smart people do.”
Arteta’s history with Guardiola, as well as their increasingly competitive roles in the Premier League, has added tension to the relationship. Earlier this season, Arteta suggested he had “all the information” on City’s tactics, provoking a pointed response from Guardiola who told his former assistant to “come down from the clouds.”
But Arteta moved quickly to clarify his admiration. “I’ve admired him since I was 10 years old. I respect him profoundly. I’m so grateful for everything he did for me and continues to do for me.
“If someone wants to damage the relationship, that’s not in my hands. The feeling [of affection] is profound. [Guardiola] knows it, the staff know it because I still [speak] with them today, and with the board, the ownership – with everyone.”
Guardiola may not have expected Arsenal’s win to directly benefit Manchester City’s European chances, but it did. The result secured the coefficient points necessary for the Premier League to have a fifth spot in next season’s Champions League.
With City two points outside the top four, that could prove important.
As for Arsenal, the outcome across the two legs was emphatic. Arsenal delivered a 5-1 aggregate win and now face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.