Pep Guardiola is confident that Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side will continue to challenge his Manchester City team for the Premier League title for "many years".
The Citizens are celebrating an unprecedented fourth consecutive top-flight title after beating West Ham United 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium in their final game of the season on Sunday.
Premier League Player of the Season Phil Foden netted a double in the opening 18 minutes before Mohammed Kudus's sensational bicycle kick pulled one back for West Ham on the stroke of half time.
However, a dominant Man City outfit restored their two-goal cushion midway through the second half thanks to lynchpin Rodri, before seeing out the contest in front of a carnival atmosphere at the Etihad.
Arsenal, who beat Everton 2-1 in their final-day fixture, pushed Man City all the way in 2023-24, as they did in the previous campaign, but they ultimately came up short and finished two points behind the sky blue juggernaut managed by Guardiola.
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Guardiola: 'Arsenal have sent us a message'
After three years working as Guardiola's assistant at Man City, Arteta has since enhanced his stature as a manager during his transformative period in charge of Arsenal, and the Citizens boss believes that his former apprentice is ready to challenge once again for top-flight glory.
"Credit to Arsenal, to Liverpool as well, but especially to Arsenal for bringing us to another level," Guardiola said at his post-match press conference. "Liverpool pushed us in our limits the last two seasons and now [Arsenal have done].
"It's been an incredible season. We got the message! We know that Arsenal will be competing with us for many years because of their young, talented manager [Arteta].
"They have a young squad, a young team and it sends a message that we have to be careful for the next year, but today is a day to celebrate."
Guardiola added: "I want to congratulate them from the depths of my heart, for Mikel his staff and players. They have had an incredible season.
"I feel it and they push us to our best like before. We got the message from Mikel and his players. We have to make the right decisions in the next years because they are here to stay."
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Arteta confident Arsenal will win PL title in future
Arteta, meanwhile, has congratulated Man City for their title success and has also commended the effort of his Arsenal players, insisting that one day his side will be crowned Premier League champions.
"First of all congrats to Manchester City for winning the Premier League," said Arteta. "Today some mixed emotions. First of all, to be really proud of the staff and those players. They've done an incredible job and they have pushed every limit and every margin that we could to try to win this Premier League.
"Unfortunately, it a bit short and we couldn't deliver the prize that we wanted. [Man City] took it away from us. It's the second season.
"There's only one way to [finish above Man City] - you have to be more determined, you have to be more ambitious, you have to have a lot of courage and push every limit in everything that we have. That's the next step.
"If we do what we have to do, we're going to be closer and at the end we'll win it. When? I don't know, but if we keep knocking and being that close, in the end it will happen."
While Arsenal's 2023-24 campaign has now come to an end, Man City will soon shift their attention to the FA Cup final against rivals Manchester United at Wembley Stadium next Saturday, with the Citizens bidding to become the first-ever team to win the Premier League and FA Cup in consecutive seasons.
Oliver Thomas
