Sunday’s game between Arsenal and Manchester City was one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season thanks to a brewing rivalry after Erling Haaland’s post-match comments in the first game.
Arsenal, desperate to prove their title credentials, came in with a point to prove, while Pep Guardiola’s City aimed to get back to their dominant former self.
From the opening whistle, Arsenal imposed themselves, making the reigning champions look uncharacteristically hapless. Their pressing and sharp attacking play unsettled City, who struggled to find any rhythm. Though Arsenal went into halftime with a 1-0 lead, City showed glimpses of their usual attacking threat, putting pressure on Arsenal’s backline.
However, the second half saw Arsenal completely dismantle City. Despite briefly restoring parity with an equalizer, Guardiola’s side soon found themselves spiraling into chaos.
Defensive lapses and a lack of cohesion turned the game into a nightmare for City, culminating in a humiliating 5-1 thrashing. Throughout the game, Guardiola was visibly agitated on the touchline, watching his side crumble under Arsenal’s relentless assault.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola did not hold back in his criticism of his players, calling them “fragile” in an interview after the game.
But while City’s defensive struggles and Guardiola’s frustration were evident on the pitch, one fan had his attention diverted by a steward. This fan’s keen eye spotted a steward on duty at the Emirates Stadium who bore an uncanny resemblance to Pep himself. Sitting in a high-vis jacket, the image turned into a joke on X, with people saying Guardiola had resorted to sneaking out of the stadium as a steward to avoid witnessing the carnage firsthand.

The resemblance was undeniable. From the deep, intense eyes to the distinctively shaped, slightly oval bald head, every feature seemed to mirror Guardiola’s unmistakable look. Even the facial hair seemed to be a perfect match! The steward sporting a slightly scruffy white beard is similar to Guardiola’s go-to look on matchdays.
All these features made the steward a near-perfect doppelganger for the Manchester City boss.
To top it all off, the steward’s facial expression—one of disappointment and resignation—matched the very same look Guardiola wore for much of the match.
Captured around the 72nd minute, with Arsenal leading 3-1, the steward’s expressions perfectly encapsulated the emotions Pep himself must have been feeling. As the scoreline continued to worsen, the idea of him sneaking out in disguise didn’t seem all that far-fetched.
Football fans on social media had a good laugh thanks to the watchful eyes of one user, with many also comparing him to Enzo Maresca, another one of Pep’s lookalikes. “lol that looks more like Maresca ngl,” said one user while another kept his response short and simple, “Enzo Maresca.”