Mikel Arteta Mocks Pep’s “Heroic” Bus Siege and Referee Romance Gone Wrong in Most brutal post match Interview
The Emirates Stadium witnessed a gripping 1-1 Premier League draw between Arsenal and Manchester City on September 21, 2025, a result that showcased the Gunners’ resilience under Mikel Arteta.
Erling Haaland struck early for City in the 9th minute, capitalizing on a swift counter-attack to silence the home crowd. Arsenal fought back, with Gabriel Martinelli delivering a dramatic equalizer in the 90+3rd minute, rifling a shot past Ederson after a clever exchange with Declan Rice. The point keeps Arsenal unbeaten in five matches, trailing Liverpool by five points, while City, showing rare vulnerability, sit with seven points from their opening fixtures.
The real fireworks came post-match, as Arteta unleashed a scathing interview that turned the spotlight on Pep Guardiola. The Arsenal boss, once Guardiola’s protégé, didn’t mince words, mocking City’s defensive tactics.
“Heroic bus siege? More like a tea party,” Arteta quipped, referring to City’s deep parking of the bus to protect their lead. The Emirates crowd roared in approval, savoring the rare glimpse of Arteta’s biting humor. His former mentor, meanwhile, could only muster a tight-lipped response about “tactical choices.”
Arteta reserved his sharpest critique for the refereeing, a sore point in City’s favor over the years. Michael Oliver’s decisions—overlooking a potential offside on Haaland’s goal and a penalty shout for Bukayo Saka in the 65th minute—fueled Arteta’s ire.
“Referee romance gone wrong,” he said with a smirk, hinting at Guardiola’s storied influence with officials. “Pep’s charm used to sway every whistle, but today even VAR couldn’t save his love story with the refs. Karma’s a beautiful thing.” Guardiola, in his own presser, grumbled about “unfortunate calls,” but Arteta’s words carried the day.
This draw marks Arsenal’s fifth straight unbeaten game against City since 2021, with Martinelli’s late heroics and Riccardo Calafiori’s debut composure signaling a squad on the rise. Arteta’s parting shot? “We’re here to win wars, not flirt with refs.” In a season dominated by Liverpool, this result and Arteta’s bravado signal Arsenal’s intent to challenge the elite.