*Arsenal - Man City: 23:30 on Sunday, 22/3, on VnExpress.

This season, Arsenal has moved away from a purely aesthetic playing style, a shift that has drawn criticism. Coach Mikel Arteta's team often secures victories through a solid defense and their ability to capitalize on set-piece situations. This tactical change has frustrated many opponents and football pundits, leading several former players and coaches to openly label the Premier League leaders' approach as "dark arts."

Pep Guardiola, however, quickly dismissed concerns about Arsenal's playing style, drawing a stark comparison to pressing global issues. The Man City coach stated, "Arsenal's dark arts? When someone does something like that, usually there are judges, referees, or people behind the scenes to stop it. But look at what's happening around the world. We are in the middle of a mess where no one even bothers to lift a finger to help. The world is collapsing, and we are here talking about whether this team or that team uses dark arts. We have more important things than that."

Guardiola (left) shakes hands with Arteta after Arsenal's 1-1 draw in the 5th round of the Premier League on 21/9/2025. *Photo: PA*.

Despite the tactical debate, Guardiola acknowledged Arsenal's quality. He praised them as an excellent, cohesive team with a strong defense, good coordination, and flexibility. He also considers "the Gunners" an interesting challenge in the League Cup final on 22/3.

Man City faces significant pressure, contrasting sharply with Arsenal's strong season. Guardiola's team trails their opponents by 9 points after 30 Premier League matches and recently lost 1-5 on aggregate to Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16. A loss in both the League Cup and FA Cup would mean ending the season empty-handed. In contrast, Arsenal still has a chance for a "quadruple," as they are close to winning the Premier League, are in the Champions League quarterfinals, FA Cup quarterfinals, and the League Cup final.

Guardiola underscored the difficulty of reaching any final, emphasizing the imperative to win. "Nowadays, reaching any final is very difficult. You can see that in Europe as well as in other competitions. You never know when it will happen again. Therefore, we have to win," he added.

The coach's broader point about global disarray was echoed in a recent controversial decision by the African Football Confederation. The AFC awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory over Senegal in the African Championship final, despite Senegal having won the match 1-0 in January. The controversy arose when Senegal's players walked off the field after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco. Although they returned and the penalty was missed, the AFC deemed their action a forfeiture, reversing the outcome.

Asked about the African Football Confederation's decision, Guardiola expressed surprise. "That was a surprise. I don't know the reason, but it seems the decision was made in secret. This happens everywhere in the world, not just in football but in other areas as well," he remarked.

Thanh Quy (according to Marca)