Arteta says conscience is clear as Manchester City appeal financial verdict

Mikel Arteta has said his conscience is clear about his time at Manchester City, while declining to discuss the club's financial-rules case in detail because an appeal remains ongoing. According to BBC Sport's Laura Scott, the Arsenal manager gave that response at his first news conference since the independent commission's ruling against his former club.

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Arteta worked as an assistant to Pep Guardiola from 2016 to 2019 before joining Arsenal. Part of that period overlaps with the seasons covered by the findings. Asked directly whether his conscience was clear given his senior role at City, he answered yes. He declined to say whether he had spoken to Guardiola about the case.

The Arsenal manager said he and his club would withhold further comment until the proceedings were resolved. Asked whether the appeal and punishment should be settled this season, he expressed trust in those managing the process rather than endorsing a deadline. He also maintained his belief that the Premier League remains the world's best league.

BBC Sport's earlier report on the decision said the Premier League published a redacted commission report on 29 September. The findings concerned financial-rule breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. According to that report, the commission found commercial arrangements had concealed more than £830m in funding, artificially increased revenue and reduced recorded costs. These are findings City disputes through the continuing process.

City denied wrongdoing in their response to the published ruling. The club said it possessed evidence supporting its position and argued that the commission had made material errors involving law, principle and fact. Its statement set out an intention to pursue available appeal routes; Scott's subsequent report on Arteta's news conference confirmed that the club had appealed.

The Premier League said when releasing the findings that sanctions would be considered separately at a further commission hearing. That distinction leaves the published findings, City's challenge to them and any eventual punishment as separate parts of the proceedings. Arteta's response did not set out a position on what sanction should follow or attempt to resolve the disputed financial issues.