Mikel Arteta has strengthened his personal record against childhood friend Andoni Iraola after Arsenal defeated Liverpool 1–0 at Anfield on 1 November 2026. The result was more than another important three points for the Gunners. It was also the second time this year that an Arsenal side managed by Arteta had beaten a team coached by Iraola, adding an interesting chapter to the relationship between two Spanish managers who have followed different paths in English football.

The first meeting came on 3 January 2026, when Iraola was still in charge of Bournemouth. Arsenal travelled to the Vitality Stadium and secured a dramatic 3–2 victory in a match that tested their ability to respond under pressure. Bournemouth took an early lead through Evanilson after a defensive mistake by Gabriel Magalhães, but the Brazilian defender quickly made amends by scoring Arsenal's equaliser in the 16th minute.

Declan Rice then took control of the contest in the second half, scoring twice to put Arsenal 3–1 ahead. Junior Kroupi pulled one back for Bournemouth in the 76th minute, setting up a tense finish, but Arteta's players held on for the victory. It was a result that demonstrated Arsenal's ability to recover from setbacks and find a way to win even when their opponents made life difficult.

Ten months later, the two managers were on opposite sides of another significant Premier League encounter, although Iraola had changed clubs. Having moved from Bournemouth to Liverpool, he welcomed Arteta's Arsenal to Anfield on 1 November. The match ended 1–0 in favour of the visitors, with Kai Havertz scoring the decisive goal in the 16th minute after being picked out by Declan Rice.

For Iraola, the defeat carried an unusual statistical consequence. Before the Anfield fixture, Opta Analyst reported that he had lost only two of his 27 Premier League matches in 2026, one of them being the January defeat against Arsenal. The loss to Arteta's side therefore became his third league defeat of the calendar year, meaning Arsenal were responsible for two of those three setbacks.

That statistic is particularly interesting because Iraola's teams have generally been competitive and difficult to defeat. His Bournemouth side earned recognition for their aggressive pressing, intensity and willingness to challenge established Premier League opponents. Those qualities have continued to shape his managerial reputation, making the small number of defeats in 2026 a reflection of the consistency his teams have shown.

Arteta, meanwhile, has secured two victories against his childhood friend in different circumstances. The January encounter required Arsenal to recover from conceding first and survive a difficult closing period, while the Anfield meeting demanded defensive discipline and concentration after Havertz had given them the lead. The opponents and circumstances were different, but the outcome was the same.

Football friendships do not stop professional rivalries, particularly when both individuals are competing for important results. Arteta and Iraola share a Spanish football background and a longstanding personal connection, but their meetings in the Premier League have now produced two victories for the Arsenal manager in 2026.

For Arsenal supporters, the statistic offers another reason to celebrate a memorable year against one of the league's respected tactical coaches. For Iraola, it is a reminder that two of his rare setbacks have come against the same opponent. Arteta may not be keeping an official scorecard of his encounters with his childhood friend, but after Bournemouth 2–3 Arsenal and Liverpool 0–1 Arsenal, he certainly has th e bragging rights.