Arsenal’s gain unknowingly became Manchester City’s loss

Arsenal and Manchester City have been two of the three most consistently good teams in the Premier League since 2022. They have been consistently battling for the league.

In fact, Arsenal and Manchester City have been the two most consistent sides, anyway. Liverpool's campaign this season has not been great, and one of their earlier campaigns was not the best, either.

Arsenal have arguably been the most consistent team out of all three, but ironically are the only team among the big three without a Premier League title this decade.

Funny, old game, this.

Be that as it may, Arsenal and Manchester City are always in the headlines. For good or bad reasons, or weird reasons. Or shocking reasons.

One of those shocking instances was when it was announced by David Ornstein that there is a growing expectation of Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City after this season.

If that happens, Enzo Maresca is among the favorites for the job.

Arsenal’s gain unknowingly became Manchester City’s loss

Well, according to Ornstein, another name was considered. Mikel Arteta was on Manchester City's list until the Spaniard renewed his contract with The Gunners.

Arteta renewed his contract in September last year, and his current deal is supposed to run until 2027.

So, to see that Manchester City were already planning for these sorts of situations a year before news about Guardiola's potential departure broke, shows how huge of a loss it will be for City.

It also shows how big of a gain it will be for Arsenal, as there is certainly no way City can find a manager better-suited for that role than Guardiola.

Arteta would have been a good coach to have for Manchester City - although with strikingly contrasting styles of play, in some ways - that is yet another loss for them, considering Arteta's deal is already set in stone, and he may even extend further.

To be very frank, anything that involves Guardiola leaving the club is good news for Arsenal, as even if City get their hands on Maresca, they will end up being slightly weaker, and so would Chelsea.

Obviously, Ornstein was very, very clear about the fact that nothing about this saga is set in stone as of now, but if these things continue to develop the way Arsenal would want them to, then in a season, Arsenal would keep their manager, see Guardiola and potentially Maresca depart their respective clubs.

Football, bloody hell.