What Man City manager Pep Guardiola told Mikel Arteta after Arsenal defeat

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed Pep Guardiola told him his side are a 'terrific team' following their 1-0 win over Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium prior to the international break.

Arsenal, who are currently one place and two points ahead of Guardiola's troops in the table, got the better of City in the Premier League for the first time since December 2015. Gabriel Martinelli scored the only goal of the game, striking late to seal three points for the home side.

The Brazilian's deflected winner inflicted a second successive defeat on City, meaning they will be determined to get back on track when Brighton & Hove Albion visit the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The Blues are currently two points behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur.

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Arsenal pushed City in pursuit of the title last season and will be determined to pip them to the prize this time around. And Arteta, who worked with Guardiola at the Etihad as a coach, was delighted to receive such high praise for his team from his former colleague.

"I talked with him [Guardiola] after the game," Arteta told the Men In Blazers podcast. "It’s always like this, it's very tense, it's very emotional, a lot is going on in that moment, but after that, the relationship remains intact.

"I lost much more than I won against him but, to be fair, in the last two games when we won the Community Shield and now in the league, the feeling is totally different. [He said] 'Congratulations, you guys are a terrific team'."

Arsenal, along with table-toppers and north London rivals Spurs, are still unbeaten in the