Arteta's Conscience Clear Amidst Man City Charges

Mikel Arteta, the current manager of Arsenal, has asserted that his conscience is clear concerning the numerous alleged Premier League rule breaches committed by Manchester City during the period he served as an assistant manager at the club. Arteta worked under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City from 2016 to 2019, a span that falls within the nine seasons for which the club is accused of violating financial regulations and concealing funding totaling over £830 million.

In his first press conference since the Premier League's charges were announced – a decision Manchester City has since appealed – Arteta largely deflected direct questions, emphasizing a desire to respect the ongoing process. However, when pressed directly whether his conscience was clear given his senior role at City during the period in question, Arteta responded with a single word: "Yes."

This response marked the only instance where the Spanish manager deviated from his stated position of not commenting on the case until its full resolution. Arteta maintained a composed demeanor throughout the questioning, making it evident he had prepared a consistent stance. When asked if he had spoken with Pep Guardiola, Arteta declined to answer.

Arteta acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, which include claims of "sham contracts" designed to disguise earnings. He stated, "I fully understand the question, but obviously I think it's very important that we respect the process, the timelines, and it's still an ongoing process that is not resolved because it's been appealed." He reiterated his and the club's position: "My position, and I think the club's position, is not to make any further comments until this is fully resolved."

Regarding the timeline for resolution, Arteta expressed confidence in the authorities responsible for managing the process. "The people are responsible to manage this process and to come to the right conclusions and I'm sure it will be done and it will be resolved in the right way. We have to trust that," he said.

Despite the ongoing situation involving their title rivals, Arteta affirmed his belief that the Premier League remains the world's premier football league, stating "100%" when asked for his opinion.

Arsenal, currently trailing league leaders Manchester City by three points, are preparing to face Leeds United on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium.