Pep has lolly pop

PEP GUARDIOLA says Arsenal are given an easier ride over their spending than Manchester City.

As the two sides prepare to resume hostilities tomorrow, Guardiola (inset) used the Gunners’ £300m summer spending spree to add more spice to the tie. Arsenal’s window took their spending since the summer of 2021 to more than

£900m, which is marginally more than City’s in the same period.

But while Guardiola’s side have hoovered up silverware, Arsenal have won nothing, and the Blues boss turned up the sarcasm to stress his point.

“I want to say to my friend Mikel Arteta, if he wins the title it will be just because he spent, not because he worked a lot, or his players,” said Guardiola.

“It’s like Liverpool. If Arne Slot wins again, it will be because he spent a lot of money. Right?

“Because it’s not just Man City that happened. It’s for all of them.

“I know how they’ve been treated is completely different, but what he wants to spend is because they want it and it’s fine. All I can say is they have been wise. They spent what they believe they can to compete against the best teams.”

Arsenal signed four players for more than £48m each this summer as they seek to claim their first title for 22 years.

Guardiola added: “Window by window, Arsenal is getting better. “They are for me the most solid team. They don’t make mistakes in the back. What a team in every department.” Key midfielder Rodri

(inset) started against Manchester United and Napoli this week but asked to come off on the hour against the Italians.

Guardiola will make a late call on him tomorrow.