Arteta insists clear conscience over Man City breaches as appeal looms

Mikel Arteta has said he has a clear conscience over Manchester City's serious financial rule breaches during his time as assistant manager. An independent commission found City artificially inflated revenue by £830m between 2009/10 and 2017/18. City deny wrongdoing and have lodged an appeal.

  • Who: Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager, formerly assistant at Manchester City.
  • What happened: Independent commission found City artificially inflated revenue by £830m between 2009/10 and 2017/18.
  • City's response: Club have lodged an appeal and deny all wrongdoing.
  • Arteta's stance: Says he has a clear conscience, will not comment further until appeal outcome.
  • Context: Arteta worked under Pep Guardiola for three-and-a-half seasons, including 2016/17 and 2017/18.
  • What's next: City's appeal process must conclude before Arteta gives detailed views.

What was said

"The thing is that this has been going for various years. The process is still not finished, so it's very difficult to express how I feel because it's not resolved. When it's resolved, I can talk with clarity and tell you exactly how I feel."

— Mikel Arteta, on the ongoing Man City financial case

"I think that process has to be resolved in a way. And we need to trust that the people who are in charge doing that will do it in the timeframe that they believe is best for everybody."

— Arteta, on trusting the independent process

"I feel proud and very emotional when I think about how we won it, the moments that we had together. It's a unique and genuine feeling that I have."

— Arteta, on winning the Premier League title with Arsenal before the verdict

"It's the best league in the world for many reasons. I've been here for over 20 years and it will continue to be the best league in the world. I feel privileged to be where I am."

— Arteta, on the Premier League's status

"And there are a few clubs who have been extremely good and managed resources in an intelligent way. And we suffered from that a few weeks ago [with their defeat to Brighton]."

— Arteta, on clubs managing resources well

"I want to think that it doesn't [damage the Premier League] but I don't know. And certainly it's not in our control. In our control is to bring everything we can individually to the club, to maintain the position we have to be the best league in the world."

— Arteta, on the Premier League's reputation amid the City verdict

Arteta's refusal to be drawn on specific memories of his time at City reflects a deliberate strategy. He wants the focus on Arsenal's on-pitch progress, not a legal saga that could drag on for months or years. By repeatedly saying he will wait for the appeal outcome, he protects both himself and the club from making premature comments that could be misconstrued.

The Arsenal boss also sidestepped questions about whether his memories of working at City had been tainted. That non-answer is telling: any strong statement either way would create headlines and shift attention away from Arsenal's season. His clear conscience comment, however, was a direct and firm response when pressed.

The numbers

  • £830m: Amount by which Manchester City artificially inflated revenue between 2009/10 and 2017/18, per the independent commission.
  • £264.3m: Portion of artificially inflated sponsorship income across the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons.
  • Three-and-a-half seasons: Arteta's time as assistant to Pep Guardiola at City, including 2016/17 and 2017/18.
  • 2009/10 – 2017/18: The period covered by the commission's investigation.

Why Arteta is stonewalling until the appeal ends

The City financial case is a legal minefield. Arteta worked at the club during two seasons explicitly named in the findings, so any comment could be used in future proceedings or create unwanted distractions. His insistence on waiting for the appeal outcome is the only sensible position for a manager who must focus on Arsenal's title race.

During his time as assistant, City signed players including John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Bernardo Silva, Ederson and Kyle Walker. Those signings fell within the period when the commission found artificially inflated sponsorship income. Arteta's clear conscience does not mean he is ignoring the findings—it simply means he does not believe he personally did anything wrong.

The Premier League's integrity has been questioned by Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner, who said the league has been damaged by City being found guilty. Arteta admitted he is unsure about the global impact but stressed the league's enduring quality. That balancing act—defending the competition while acknowledging uncertainty—shows he is managing the narrative carefully. For Arsenal fans, the focus remains on the pitch, where Arteta's side must maintain their high standards despite off-field noise.

Talking points

  • Should Arteta have been more critical of City given his role as assistant during the period under investigation, or is his neutral stance the right call?
  • If City's appeal fails and titles are stripped or sanctions imposed, would that retroactively taint Arteta's coaching achievements at the Etihad?
  • Does the £830m figure undermine the credibility of the Premier League's financial regulations, or is it proof the system works?
  • Arteta's praise for clubs who 'managed resources intelligently'—was that a subtle dig at City's spending or a genuine compliment for others?

What happens next

Manchester City's appeal will run its course, and until it concludes, Arteta will not elaborate further. Arsenal's immediate focus is the Premier League campaign, with the manager signed to a new four-year contract this week. The uncertainty over City's sanctions will hover over the title race, but Arteta's job is to keep his players concentrated on results, starting with the next fixture.

Frequently asked questions

What did Arteta say about his conscience over Man City's breaches?

He answered "yes" when asked if he had a clear conscience over his time at the club during the period under investigation.

Will Arteta comment further on Man City's financial case?

No, he repeatedly insisted he will not comment further until the outcome of City's appeal is known.

Did Arteta win the Premier League with Arsenal before the verdict?

Yes, he said he feels "proud and very emotional" when thinking about how Arsenal won the title, calling it a "unique and genuine feeling."

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