Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta disagrees with mentor Pep Guardiola over Philippe Coutinho

Mikel Arteta learnt his trade at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola.

He was handed the opportunity to master it by Arsenal, when they named him manager following the sacking of Unai Emery.

Arteta has made a positive start in north London, and Guardiola's 'intense, high-press' style is present in his work both on match day and in training.

Kieran Tierney recently said of Arteta's training sessions: "I've seen all his video meetings, I've been in the meetings together as a team. Before the games, after the games, and just his analysis is amazing.

"In Dubai for the winter break, I was doing some one-to-one work with him, and that's when I realised 'This is brilliant'.

"Just to me like, he knows what's going to happen in a game and how it's going to happen. What you should do, where you're going to get pressed from and where your options should be.

"You should know where the left mid's going to be, the centre-mid, so you can just play in sync. Everybody's one brain and I think that's perfect."

Being influenced by Guardiola is one thing, but attempting to emulate him is quite another, and it seems Arteta is aware not to do this.

Arsenal being linked with Philippe Coutinho is interesting for this reason.

Prior to the Barcelona star moving on loan to Bayern Munich, the midfielder was offered to Manchester City.

Guardiola turned down the opportunity to sign Coutinho, as he didn't feel the Brazilian would suit his high-pressing style.

Arteta is reportedly an admirer of the Brazilian playmaker however, and unlike his mentor, believes Coutinho has a lot to offer a top Premier League side.

What's more, the Spaniard is said to be in touch with Coutinho's agent Kia Joorabchian about a potential transfer ahead of the summer window.

How Coutinho would fit in at Arsenal remains to be seen, but if Arteta can convince the midfielder to buy into his Guardiola-like philosophy the signing could be a stroke of brilliance.

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