ไทย
English
中國人
Mikel Arteta says he has no desire to "make any further comments" regarding the guilty verdict handed down to Manchester City for financial rule violations, though he maintains his own conscience is clear despite having previously worked at the club.
The Premier League charges center on allegations of financial misconduct spanning nine seasons, from 2009–10 through 2017–18. Arteta served as an assistant coach at City during the final two of those years, a role he held until Arsenal appointed him as manager in December 2019.
There is no indication that City's players, Pep Guardiola, coaching staff, or other support personnel acted improperly. Those on the pitch and the touchline achieved their accomplishments, both within and beyond the nine-year window covered by the charges, in good faith. However, it was the club's "sham" agreements with commercial partners that artificially boosted their financial power, enabling them to unfairly build a squad and staff capable of eventually dominating the sport.
Prevailing sentiment following the guilty verdict — which City have rejected and are currently appealing — is that the club's achievements are tainted. Arteta, however, has no doubt about his own integrity. At a press conference ahead of Saturday's Premier League fixture against Leeds United, Arteta was posed the question: "You held a senior role [at Manchester City], is your conscience clear?"
His response was brief but unambiguous: "Yes."
When asked whether he had spoken with Pep Guardiola — who is set to attend his first City match next Tuesday since stepping down as manager in May, in a show of solidarity at the club's first home game since the verdict — Arteta replied: "I prefer not to answer those questions."
The Spaniard was pressed for his thoughts on the independent commission's findings and ruling, but diplomatically declined to share any view at this stage. "I fully understand the question, but I think it's very important that we respect the process, the timelines, and it remains an ongoing matter that is unresolved because it's been appealed. My position, and I believe [Arsenal's] position, is not to make any further comments until this is fully resolved."
How Does a Man City Punishment Affect Arsenal?
According to reports, other Premier League clubs do not anticipate seeing Manchester City on the starting grid for the 2027–28 season.
While that may reflect wishful thinking given how aggressively City are expected to contest the verdict, it underscores the severity of punishment rival clubs would like to see imposed. The original independent commission's panel will ultimately determine the sanctions if the appeal fails, with a combination of retrospective and forward-looking penalties gaining traction among competing teams.
Arsenal could stand to benefit more than most from a Premier League landscape without City, who have been and remain the Gunners' fiercest rivals. On the flip side, last season's title was arguably all the more meaningful given the enormous effort required to overcome a City side that had claimed six of the previous eight championships.
Should City's titles ultimately be stripped, there is no certainty that any would be redistributed. Arsenal also did not finish as runners-up to City in any of the seasons during which the Premier League trophy traveled to the Etihad Stadium under the scope of the charges.
Nevertheless, the Gunners could still receive some financial benefit if a retrospective points deduction is applied to City's league positions across those nine seasons, effectively redrawing the final tables.