Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has had a pop at the Arsenal hierarchy, saying that while he respects the team, he doesn't respect them off the pitch.

The Spaniard was speaking ahead of this evening's Premier League game against Watford, City's penultimate domestic encounter before the end of the season.

A chance of retaining the FA Cup at Wembley on August 1st slipped away during Saturday's semi-final against Arsenal, as City fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Gunners.

Arsenal are managed by Guardiola's former assistant Mikel Arteta.

Guardiola is believed to be unhappy that the North London club was part of a group of Premier League clubs that requested the Court of Arbitration for Sport would not delay City's ban from European competition for breaching Financial Fair Play rules, pending City's appeal, which was successful.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger previously coined the phrase 'financial doping' to describe City's rise under it's wealthy United Arab Emirates owners.

Having let rip as 'whispering' Premier League rivals last week, Guardiola is not letting his frustration go.

"I said after the press conference against Arsenal. The only regret in that game, we didn't play the first half as we played the second (half). We want to try to play 90 minutes like the second. And after we are beaten, shake hands. So the opponents always deserve my respect and credit, and Arsenal, they have it.

"All respect with Arsenal is on the pitch, not much off the pitch, but on the pitch, a lot.

"So (I) congratulate them, and good luck in the final against Chelsea."