How Mikel Arteta is copying Pep Guardiola’s defensive playbook to build an Arsenal dynasty

In Arsenal and Manchester City, we’ve been blessed with two of the best Premier League sides of all-time in recent seasons.

Pep Guardiola’s City were consistently brilliant, winning countless titles and only relenting an exceptional Liverpool team and now this current Arsenal side.

There have been similarities between the two teams at times and having worked under Guardiola, it’s obvious Arteta was going to take something from the former Barcelona man.

Now, it seems Arteta’s pursuit of a new right-back is very much taking a leaf from Pep’s City playbook.

Mikel Arteta looks to be copying Pep Guardiola’s defensive playbook

When Pep Guardiola initially took over Man City, a lot of emphasis was placed on the defence being spot on but in those initial years, City went very much with the notion of attacking full-backs.

However, fast forward just a few years, and Guardiola adopted a new tactic. In the 2022/23 season, City had one of the best defences in Europe and it was predominantly built on four natural centre-backs playing across the entire back four.

Guardiola went with John Stones, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji and Aymeric Laporte for much of that season and it worked a treat.

Mikel Arteta now appears to be doing the same. The signing of Riccardo Calafiori to play left-back was a nod to this, and now Arteta’s pursuit of a new right-back appears to mirror this further.

Arteta is said to be keen on signing one of Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah, or Jacobo Ramon.

Interestingly, all three of these defenders are natural centre-backs who can move into the right-back position if needed.

With Arsenal so strong in the midfield and forward areas, in addition to landing Bruno Guimaraes to further protect the back four, it appears Arteta is going all in on going with power, size, and strength in defence.

Man City won countless titles adopting this approach. Now, it feels like Arteta is doing the same thing, while having Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly as options for the more attacking side of things.