Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has previously praised Arsenal as the best team in England, highlighting the consistency and quality Mikel Arteta’s side showed during their title-winning campaign.
Guardiola’s comments came during the 2025/26 Premier League season, when Manchester City were attempting to close the gap on Arsenal at the top of the table. Despite City producing strong results during the title race, Guardiola maintained that Arsenal had been the standout team based on their performances and consistency.
The Spaniard’s assessment was particularly significant because of his long-standing rivalry with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Arteta worked as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City before taking charge of Arsenal, and the two managers subsequently developed one of the Premier League’s most closely followed managerial rivalries.
Guardiola Praises Arsenal’s Consistency
Guardiola explained that Arsenal’s position at the top of the Premier League was not simply the result of a short run of good performances. According to the former City boss, their consistency across competitions demonstrated why they deserved recognition.
“The best team in England so far is Arsenal,” Guardiola said, pointing to the numbers and consistency produced by Arteta’s team.
Earlier in January 2026, Guardiola went even further by describing Arsenal as the best team in the world at that stage of the season. He referenced their performances across the Premier League, Champions League and domestic cup competitions as evidence of their high level.
The comments showed the level of respect Guardiola had for the Arsenal squad and Arteta’s work.
Arsenal Eventually Won the Premier League
Arsenal ultimately justified much of the praise by winning the 2025/26 Premier League title.
The Gunners secured the championship after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth in May 2026. The result gave Arsenal an unassailable advantage at the top of the table and ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title.
That achievement added further context to Guardiola’s earlier assessment. Arsenal had competed at the top throughout the campaign before finally securing the trophy.
Arteta’s Arsenal Impress Guardiola
One of the most interesting aspects of Guardiola’s comments was his acknowledgement of Arteta’s development as a manager.
Having worked closely with Arteta at Manchester City, Guardiola knows the Spaniard’s coaching methods particularly well. Arteta has built Arsenal around a structured defensive system, technical midfielders and a highly organised pressing approach.
Guardiola also described Arsenal as an “extraordinary team” after Manchester City defeated them 2-1 in April 2026. Despite City taking three points in that encounter, Guardiola acknowledged how difficult Arsenal were to beat.
His comments demonstrated that one individual result did not completely change his assessment of Arsenal’s overall quality.
Arsenal’s Rise Continues
Arsenal’s progress under Arteta has been gradual, with the club moving from regular title challengers to eventually becoming Premier League champions.
The team’s defensive organisation, midfield strength and attacking options have all contributed to their progress. Players such as Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka have become important figures in Arteta’s project, while the club has continued to strengthen its squad.
Guardiola’s praise therefore represents recognition from a manager who competed directly against Arsenal at the highest level.
Although football can change quickly and a team’s status depends on performances over time, Guardiola’s comments underline how highly Arsenal were regarded during their title-winning campaign.
For Arsenal supporters, having a manager of Guardiola’s stature describe their team as the best in England was another notable moment in the club’s rise under Arteta.
