“He improved Guardiola” – Ex-Manchester City defender praises Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta

Arsenal’s Premier League title has brought fresh attention to the growing list of coaches influenced by Pep Guardiola. And former Manchester City player Fernando Reges believes Mikel Arteta may already have taken some of those ideas even further.

Fernando spent three years at City between 2014 and 2017, making 102 appearances before leaving for Galatasaray. His spell at the Etihad coincided with one of the most important periods in the club’s modern history.

The Brazilian arrived before Guardiola and before City became the elite club they are today. He witnessed the structural changes at the club from close range, including the move away from what he described as the “old second division…