Mikel Arteta is confident his friend Pep Guardiola wasn’t playing mind games when he described Arsenal As “the best team in the world”.

Guardiola claimed last week that it shows just how difficult it will be Manchester City to overhaul the Gunners in the Premier League title race.

Arsenal then lost to Manchester United two days later before getting back on track with a 3-2 defeat of Kairat Almaty in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Arteta’s side have a four-point lead over City and Aston Villa at the top of the league table Ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Leeds.

Asked if he believed Guardiola was adopting tactics often used by former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and trying to get a psychological edge on him, Arteta said: “With me? I don’t think so.

“We usually talk (in press conferences), talk about how he feels and that’s it. If there are mind games, there are mind games. I don’t pay too much attention, we just have to go on the pitch and deliver.”

We are not like the old sparring partners of Ferguson and Wenger – Arteta

Ferguson and then Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger traded barbs for several years before later developing a friendship.

Arteta says his time working under Guardiola at the Etihad before heading south means they have a different bond.

“It (Ferguson and Wenger) had a different relationship, I’ve known Pep since he was 15 and I was with him every day for four-and-a-half years,” he said.

“It’s different. I’m sure Pep had a good relationship with Enzo (Maresca) and they worked together and can still be rivals.

“It will be the same with the players. I had players here and then I have to play against them. Against Granit (Xhaka), I love Granit but if I want to play on the pitch we go to war because I know how he is too.”

‘Arsenal are doing a lot of things well’

Arteta was quick to speak positively after last weekend’s setback – the third league game Arsenal have failed to win.

And he stuck to that message ahead of the game at Elland Road.

He said: “When you lose a game, you have a lot of emotions. This group of players is very competitive and looking for excellence. When you don’t reach it, you ask yourself questions.

“My role is to bring optimism and the reality of where we are. Our club has a long history, and it’s hard to find that moment in February when we’re in this position. Guys, we’re doing a lot of things very well, let’s focus on that.”