Yaya Toure has compared Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to former mentor Pep Guardiola.
Arteta has overseen a radical rebuild of the club since he was appointed as Unai Emery’s successor in December 2019 and looks to be reaping the rewards this season.
Currently, Arsenal are in the driving seat to claim fourth spot in the Premier League, boasting an exciting young team after a shift in their transfer policy.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang followed Mesut Ozil through the exit door during the dying embers of the January transfer window as Arteta focused on a culture built around developing burgeoning talent.
Academy graduates Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe are excelling, while Ben White, Martin Odergaard, Aaron Ramsdale and Gabriel Martinelli are all proving astute additions.
Toure, who spent two seasons at Manchester City under both Guardiola and Arteta, sees similarities to Guardiola’s Barcelona team, as well as the City side currently leading the Premier League.
“If you see the action before the goals, that’s why you have to give credit to Arteta since he has arrived at Arsenal,” said Toure.
“He has improved this team when they lose the ball. Five seconds and they get the ball back. That’s typical from Pep.
“When I was at Barcelona, they were doing similar. When they lost the ball, the guys who are in front, they stay. The guys who are behind, they run behind you. Man City do that a lot. They are great at that.
“Then, when they get the ball back, they change their pace to finish as soon as possible. It looks simple, but it’s very hard.”
