Mikel Arteta insists he has a clear conscience regarding Manchester City’s breaches of Premier League regulations while he served as an assistant coach at the club.
The Arsenal manager was part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff from 2016 to 2019. That spell fell within the nine-season period in which City were ruled to have violated regulations and concealed more than £830m in private funding.
Speaking at his first press conference since the decision, which City are challenging, Arteta declined to discuss the details and stressed the need to respect the continuing legal process.
Near the end of a questioning session lasting more than 30 minutes, he was asked whether his conscience was clear given that he had spent three and a half years in a senior role at City.
Arteta responded: “Yes.”
Although brief, his single-word reply was perhaps the most significant moment of the exchange.
It was the only time the Spanish coach moved away from his repeated position that he would not comment on the case before a final outcome had been reached.
Arteta remained calm throughout, but he appeared determined to maintain the response he had prepared before arriving at Arsenal’s training base.
When questioned about whether he had contacted Guardiola, Arteta said he would rather not address the matter.
He was also invited to respond to the independent commission’s critical findings, including its conclusion that City used artificial agreements with several commercial partners to hide revenue.
Arteta said he understood why the question was being asked but emphasized that the procedures and timetable should be respected because the appeal means the case remains unsettled.
He added that both he and Arsenal would avoid further public remarks until the matter had been completely concluded.
Asked whether the appeal and any punishment should be settled during the current season to protect the competition’s integrity, Arteta said those overseeing the case must be trusted to reach the proper decision and resolve it appropriately.
Arteta also said he remained entirely convinced that the Premier League is the finest domestic competition in world football.
Arsenal are three points behind leaders City and will host fifth-placed Leeds at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
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