Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is following a key example set by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. The two Spaniards are going head-to-head this season, with the Gunners leading the race in the Premier League title fight.
Arsenal went into the World Cup break at the top of the table, five points clear of reigning champions City in second. Sporting director Edu was able to poach both Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from the Etihad Stadium in the summer transfer window, reuniting the players with Arteta.
The Gunners boss will be without his star striker after Jesus suffered a serious knee injury whilst away with Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar. The 25-year-old is set to be out of action until February with Arteta hinting he could dip into the transfer market to sign a replacement in the short-term.
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Speaking to Jamie Carragher in an interview on Sky Sports, Arteta has since detailed the main influences behind his tactical ideas at Arsenal which sees them currently lead the way in the Premier League. The Gunners boss said: "The idea on the pitch, for sure it was Johan Cruyff and what he said when I was at Barcelona and what I was taught when I was there as a player.
"Every manager that I had [as a player] I learnt so much. Sometimes about dealing with people, how protective they were, how caring they were.
"In difficult moments how they have acted both individually and with the team. With Arsene [Wenger], the opportunity he gave me here, the way he understood the game and the philosophy of working and teaching as well.
"For sure Pep [Guardiola] as well. He has been the biggest influence for me in my career as a player and as a manager, along with opportunity he gave me to work with him in a new role and a new way of understanding the game."
When asked whether Guardiola has evolved Cruyff's ideas and the style of football first taught at Barcelona, Arteta responded: "I think he has evolved it and he treated and gave that style of play many more tools. That's the secret of it.
"It's great to get ideas from other managers to copy, but you cannot copy and paste. It does not work that way, unfortunately.
"In my opinion, other sports are really changing my way of understanding the game. I totally agree with that [if Guardiola has changed football].
"He probably had the same purpose but in a totally different way. It's more attractive, more enjoyable and more fun for the players and everybody that was watching it.
"If you ask him, he will say he is the most defensive manager in the world. He is but in the sense of how he wants to control the game and wants to have the ball because he doesn't like conceding any chances or any goals because the chance of winning the game is there.
"It's very different to other managers or other very successful people that have found ways to win in the game."
Arteta clearly understands that he could never copy Guardiola's unique tactical plan and that is why he is following the City manager's example by using his idea as a platform to develop and improve in his own way at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have a clear identity this season, pressing from the front and playing a possession-based style to control matches, though that does not stop them from being pragmatic and adapting to the threats posed by different teams when required.
This characteristic Arteta has implemented during his time with Arsenal has helped them win more games and now sees them challenging City for the Premier League title. The wins against Tottenham and Liverpool this season highlighted the different play styles and tactics Arteta can use with his squad to achieve the best result and the Spaniard will continue to develop his ideas and benefit the Gunners moving forward because of what he has learned from Guardiola and Cruyff.
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