Under Mikel Arteta and set-piece specialist coach Nicolas Jover, Arsenal have become set-piece kings as they cruise at the top of the Premier League this season.
They have already scored nine set-piece goals in the league this season from nine matches, which is far more than any other side.
Now, Guardiola has suggested Tony Pulis' Stoke side have inspired Premier League clubs to become more direct with set pieces such as long throws as he spoke on the state of the English top flight.
"Dyche is one of the best by far doing these kind of aspects. It’s not new, he did it before. Or Sam Allardyce. Or I remember when I was not here, Stoke City. Do you remember Stoke City when they made the throws? It happened in that time.
"Now it’s just more and more teams doing that but then maybe Stoke was the exception. I remember when I was at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Arsene Wenger talked about going to play at Stoke City, but now it happens a lot of times.
"Every manager does what they believe. I’m focused on that. I want to score from free-kicks and corners – I’m not naive, I want it – but I spend my time on what we have to do to play better, attack better and create chances, to score goals.
"Defensively, you have to be more aggressive. All the aspects of the game I see. Of course, I pay attention, but I know I’m not the manager to try to… It’s what I’ve done all my career."
City travel to Swansea on Wednesday night in the League Cup fourth round in a break from the Premier League, which is filled with sides desperate to use set pieces to their advantage.
Guardiola may use this game as a chance to rethink his tactics, which are not working this season.