Arteta says he has no issue with City spell despite breaches
Mikel Arteta said he has no concerns about Manchester City's Premier League rule breaches during his time as an assistant coach there. The Arsenal manager avoided further comment while the club's appeal is unresolved. He added that he trusts the process and still considers the Premier League the world's best.
Mikel Arteta worked as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City for three and a half years before joining Arsenal in 2019. That spell overlaps with the nine seasons in which an independent panel found City broke Premier League rules and hid over £830m in secret payments.
At his first media briefing since the ruling, Arteta repeatedly avoided discussing the case while City’s appeal is unresolved. When pressed on whether he felt untroubled by his time there, he said “Yes.” He also expressed faith in the process and said he still considered the Premier League the best in the world. Arsenal are three points behind City and host fifth-placed Leeds on Saturday.
The unresolved City case may shape how supporters, clubs and sponsors view the Premier League’s governance, especially during a tight title race. Arsenal fans could question whether past seasons were fairly contested, while City supporters may feel the appeal process deserves patience. Players and managers may face more questions about integrity and accountability, and media coverage could keep scrutiny on how quickly authorities resolve complex financial cases