Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has revealed that he exchanged text messages with Arsenal counterpart, Mikel Arteta, after a 2-2 draw between both sides last Sunday.
Guardiola, speaking after their 2-1 win over Watford in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, insisted that his friendship with Arteta is not affected by the controversy that followed the game.
Rodri went off injured in the first half after challenges from Kai Havertz and Thomas Partey, while Leandro Trossard was sent off for the Gunners.
Arsenal played the entire second half with 10 men and there were feisty scenes after the game at the Etihad.
“The opponents can play how they want to, it’s up to us to handle them,” Guardiola said.
“With Mikel, we texted each other. The relationship, it doesn’t change.
“If they decide to play in that way, it’s more than perfect. It’s fine. I wasn’t able to do that, but they were brilliant. It’s about us, how we can break them down and we did it really well in many things.”