Akanji is a centre-half by trade but was switched to left-back for the game with the Gunners in the absence of Nathan Ake, who missed out with the hamstring injury he picked up in the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Bayern Munich.
Guardiola said it was the performance of Akanji against the German champions that persuaded him to select the likeable Swiss international in favour of Aymeric Laporte, who the boss admitted he found tough to leave out.
He said: “I have a lot of doubts because the position is for Aymer. Aymer is our best player in the buildup by far. He has an incredible ability to read.
“After seeing Akanji against Bayern and Coman, Leroy, Musiala in duels, he was amazing.
“Against Saka and Martinelli, it is important that Kyle and him win that connection against the runners and be aggressive against them.
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“When I saw the game against Bayern Munich, I said Manu can do it because he is so intelligent and he controlled really well the incredible threat that Saka is.
“Normally he is central defender, he played right-back and now left-back.
“He is so, so nice. When you are so nice here, you play good.”
Watch the manager’s post-match press conference in the video player above.
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