Mikel Arteta breaks silence on Man City verdict and makes Premier League title claim

Arteta, who served as Pep Guardiola 's assistant at the Etihad Stadium for three years, was speaking for the first time since his one-time employers were found by an independent commission to have breached more than 100 financial regulations. City have launched an appeal - with current manager Enzo Maresca insisting the under-fire club's success has not been tainted - and, during a tense news conference at Arsenal 's London Colney headquarters, Arteta called for the 'process to be respected'.

Arteta, who largely refused to engage with questions surrounding the case, joined Arsenal from City in 2019. City have been accused of breaking the rules between 2009 and 2018.

Asked directly if his conscience was clear, Arteta replied: 'Yes. ' It was put to Arteta that he was in a "unique" position, having worked as a senior figure at City.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser thatsupports HTML5 video 'The process has been going for various years,' he said. 'That process is still not finished.

So, it is very difficult to express how I feel, because it is not resolved. 'When it is resolved I can talk with clarity and tell you exactly how I feel.

' Quizzed at to whether he was looking forward to a resolution, Arteta said: 'We need to trust that the people in charge will resolve it in the timeframe that they believe is the best for everybody. ' Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about - powered by Metro and trusted publications.

Arteta was later probed as to whether the Premier League remains the best in the world despite City's guilty verdict casting a huge shadow over the division. 'One hundred per cent,' he said.

Asked if the league had been 'damaged' by City's verdict, Arteta reverted to his stock line. 'There is a process that is not resolved,' he said.

'It is ongoing and we can have a much clearer opinion once it's been resolved. ' Manchester City allegations timeline November 2018: German newspaper Der Spiegel publish claims Manchester City have breached FFP rules March 2019: UEFA launch investigation into the claims May 2019: Manchester City launch an appeal against the investigation November 2019: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rules the appeal as inadmissible February 2020: Manchester City are handed a two-year ban from European competition and a €30m fine by UEFA July 2020: The ban is overturned after the club appeal to CAS April 2022: Der Spiegel report the Premier League has been investigating Manchester City for three years February 2023: The Premier League charges the club with 115 breaches of its financial rules September 2024: Start of a 10-week hearing between the Premier League and Manchester City September 2026: Reports emerge that Manchester City have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 financial rules the club are accused of breaking Arteta also elected against revealing if he had spoken to Guardiola since the crushing verdict was released a fortnight ago.