Man City master Pep Guardiola and his Arsenal apprentice Mikel Arteta are bossing the Premier League – The Warm-Up

MONDAY’S BIG STORIES

Pep and Mikel bossing it

Oh he’s good. So good that Manchester United fans were leaving at half-time. So good that one fan appearing to wear a Manchester United shirt in the first half wore a Manchester City one in the second half (it’s doing the rounds on Twitter).

We’re talking of course about Pep Guardiola. Yes, he may have two of the most destructive tools in world football at his disposal in Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, but still you have to know how to use them, and boy does he know how to use them. When all is said and done, perhaps the majority will finally respect his efforts and impact on this league, and while the financial backing is naturally a major factor, yesterday his side made a fellow Big Six, billion-pound-spending (since 2013) team look beyond ordinary to once more expose how big the gulf in Manchester really is.

This is a cut above the Arsenal we have seen in recent years, and it is a testament to Arteta’s perseverance, particularly when the going got tough this time last year, and also at the end of last season.

Expectations have therefore shifted. Few had them in their predicted top fours, but now that must be the bare minimum. Sure, this City side may yet run away it, but Arsenal may as well carry on believing that they can win it, because even if that results in a close or distant second, that still goes down as a success for Arsenal Football Club.

Out of respect?

When you’re 4-0 down at half-time for the second time this season, do you bring on your five-time Ballon d’Or winning forward who top scored for the club in 2021-22? Or do you leave him on the bench and claim that’s “out of respect” for this career?

Well, Erik ten Hag chose the latter.

“I didn’t bring him on out of respect for his big career,” the Dutchman said.

“And the other thing, there was then the advantage I could bring Antony Martial on. He needs the minutes but I don’t want to point it out like that.”

So that’s how bad it got. So bad that you’re bringing on players who need minutes, rather than making tactical switches that could change the game, and though Martial benefited from this move with two late consolation goals, perhaps that tells us all we need to know about where Ronaldo stands in Ten Hag’s plans.

Jorge Mendes will be back on the blower this week.

Wolves off the Lage

In perhaps the nicest sacking statement going, Wolves chairman Jeff Shi said: “Bruno is an excellent coach, a hardworking and dedicated manager, and a warm, wise and honest man.

“He and his staff have been a pleasure to work with throughout their time at Wolves, so it is with much sadness that we have had to make what has been a difficult decision.

“I honestly have no doubts about Bruno’s ability, and I’m sure he will succeed elsewhere, however the team’s form and performances over the last few months mean that we have no choice but to act.”

See. Told you it was nice. But after a run of one win in 15 Premier League games, a dismissal is going to happen in this league, while their inability to hit a barn door did not exactly help either.

Not only have they scored just three goals this season, but as pointed out below, even relegated Burnley have outscored them in the top tier going back to April. Are the Midlands teams trying to out-tripe each other this season, or what?

IN THE CHANNELS

RETRO CORNER

Now really, really, someone at Eurosport HQ should be updating this video, made in 2016, adding more memorable Zlatan Ibrahimovic moments to the end of this clip.

It was made to celebrate his 35th birthday, y’see, and well today he’s 41 years young, so if you ask me there are six more potentially glorious moments missing, if someone would pull their finger out…

Shotgun not.

COMING UP

More Premier League tonight, with a potential Championship 2023-24 match-up as Leicester City host Nottingham Forest. Hey, just saying what we see.

And then tomorrow, the Champions League is back.