Pep Guardiola: Arsenal’s Recruitment Has Been Exceptional, Starting With The Keeper

Pep Guardiola namechecks unsung Arsenal signing ahead of clash…

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola hailed Arsenal’s recruitment over the summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta looks to close the gap on the champions.

Arsenal brought in four first-team players, spending over £200million in a record spree which saw the club boost the options available to the manager.

Unlike previous windows, Arteta brought in players he intended to go straight into the first XI with David Raya, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz all becoming regular fixtures.

Jurrien Timber also started the two competitive fixtures he was available for before his serious knee injury in our opening Premier League game.

The aforementioned trio will likely start yet again when the champions come to north London with one point separating the sides.

“The recruitment they have done is top, exceptional players,” Guardiola told reporters (via HaytersTV).

“Starting from the keeper, with Rice, Havertz – the left-back (Timber) is unfortunately injured.

“Their recruitment was really good,” he added.

The players brought in provided us with two much-needed qualities which we missed last term – versatility and power. When we played Man City in the Community Shield, Rice and Havertz found themselves in new positions in relation to where they played in pre-season.

It will be interesting to see if Arteta repeats that structure and deploys Havertz as a central striker, especially if Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are absent through injury.