While Mikel Arteta opted against commenting, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher – who were both on Sky Sports’ coverage of Arsenal vs Burnley – had plenty to say.
The former began: “I’m surprised that it’s broken right now. Not just because it’s during this match but it’s the night before a Man City game. Something like that is gamechanger news.
“I think of being in school and the news of Kenny Dalglish leaving Liverpool, or Six Alex Ferguson leaving Man Utd and Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool recently.
“They’re just such huge moments in football, and I don’t see it’s news Man City would let get out or would want out. If it is true, Man City will be extremely disappointed that has broken now and so will Pep Guardiola.”
Carragher later added: “What that guy has done, what he’s done for the players and what they’ve achieved together. What a way to send him off it would be to win a domestic treble.
“I don’t suppose Manchester City or Pep Guardiola can do anything about the timing. They have to let the club know.
“The next guy coming in, we hear it’s Maresca – he would have to have information about this. He would have staff he would have to speak to.
“The closer you get to the end of the season, the more people that know. Eventually it comes out.
“This wouldn’t have happened overnight, it would have been in the last weeks or months you would imagine. There’s just too many people involved for it not to come out in the end.”
Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville.(Image: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
