🚨 BREAKING NEWS ‼️ “After seeing how he played against Newcastle, I genuinely can’t figure out why Arsenal keeps leaving him on the bench. If they don’t want him, let him join Man City — we’ll bring out the magic in him!” Pep Guardiola didn’t mince words as he publicly challenged Mikel Arteta’s decision to bench one of Arsenal’s top talents. When the Manchester City boss starts raising eyebrows, you know there’s trouble brewing at the Emirates. Arteta better address this situation fast — or risk losing a gem right under his nose.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has set tongues wagging across the football world after delivering a stinging critique of Arsenal’s team selection. In a moment that sparked instant debate, the usually reserved Catalan took a bold swing at Mikel Arteta’s decision-making, particularly over the exclusion of a standout Arsenal player following their game against Newcastle United.

 

Guardiola, speaking after City’s match, didn’t hold back. Flashing that infamous smirk, he dropped a line that’s now echoing across the Premier League: “After watching his performance against Newcastle, I just can’t understand why they’re benching him. If Arsenal don’t want him, let him come to Man City — and we’ll show you the magic!” It was sharp, direct, and dripped with both admiration and subtle challenge.

 

Though he didn’t drop a name, the football world didn’t need much time to piece it together. All signs point to Emile Smith Rowe, the 24-year-old midfielder who shone brilliantly in Arsenal’s 3-1 win against Newcastle. Despite his standout performance, Smith Rowe remains a fringe player in Arteta’s plans, struggling to secure consistent playing time this season.

 

Smith Rowe controlled the tempo in midfield during that game, threading passes, creating space, and exuding the calm presence of a player with maturity beyond his years. His creative spark lit up the pitch, raising the obvious question: why isn’t he starting more often? Guardiola’s comments have only added fuel to a fire that many Arsenal fans have been quietly stoking for weeks.

 

What makes Guardiola’s words cut deeper is his reputation — a master tactician who rarely wastes breath on hypotheticals or petty mind games. His remarks signal something serious: a top-tier talent being left to languish on the bench, and not because he lacks the goods. If anything, it seems like Arsenal are sitting on gold and not bothering to polish it.

 

His endorsement of Smith Rowe also throws a spotlight on growing unease within the Arsenal fanbase. Supporters have been clamoring for more creativity in midfield, especially in tough matches where flair is missing. Now that Guardiola — of all people — has backed that sentiment, it’s not just a whisper anymore. It’s a siren.

 

And here lies the deeper tension: can Arsenal afford to keep marginalizing a player that a rival powerhouse clearly admires? With the transfer window always lurking and City infamous for prying away unhappy talents, Arsenal might be walking a fine line between squad management and self-sabotage.

 

Since Guardiola’s comment went viral, social media has been ablaze. Some fans are defending Arteta’s vision, insisting he knows best. Others are calling foul, warning that letting Smith Rowe slip through the cracks could go down as a colossal misstep. If City decides to make a move, and Arteta doesn’t act soon, Arsenal might just end up strengthening their greatest domestic threat with their own homegrown gem.