Mikel Arteta hit back at Xavi after Barcelona’s pre season friendly against Arsenal on Wednesday night, as the Barca boss criticised the Gunners intensity during their final match in America.
The Barcelona boss was unimpressed with Arsenal’s intensity during their pre season clash on Wednesday night, saying it ‘was not normal’ for a friendly.
Arsenal won the match 5-3 and impressed with their high energy levels throughout the game, which was something that frustrated Barcelona boss Xavi.
“I said to Mikel at the end of the game that it means a Champions League game because the intensity that they put was not normal in a friendly.
“But I understand everybody wants to win. It was the first game for us and after we passed a virus.
“Our intensity didn’t surprise me, their’s did. It’s normal for it to be so intense and for their to be so many injuries and yellow cards. They were at a very high level of intensity and rhythm that we weren’t expecting.”
Xavi: “I understand that everyone wants to win, but I told [Mikel] Arteta that it looked like a Champions League match.
“The intensity that they put was too high.” pic.twitter.com/zW4NUwER1q
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley) July 27, 2023
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta Provides Folarin Balogun Update Following Pre Season Barcelona Win
A brace from Leandro Trossard, as well as goals from Bukayo Saka, Fabio Vieria and new signing Kai Havertz secured a 5-3 win for the Gunners at the SoFi Stadium.
Despite Xavi’s complaints at Arsenal’s intensity, Mikel Arteta was unapologetic for his teams performance and was even seen berating the Barcelona boss with a similar level of intensity to his team after the match.
“At the end of the day, soccer belongs to the players.
“We’re playing in front of 70,000 people and as soon as the game starts they’ll rebel against the coaches as soon as the game starts and they’ll do what they want. As soon as there’s the first foul of the game they’ll start getting intense and they’ll start playing.”
Arsenal’s impressive intensity levels are ideal going in to the beginning of the season, with the Gunners facing Manchester City in the Community Shield in just over a week’s time, before kicking off their Premier League campaign a week later.
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