Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta asks everyone to ‘respect the process’ after Manchester City’s guilty charges

Mikel Arteta was former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s assistant for three years from 2016 before leaving to join Arsenal. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said that it is important to respect the process with regard to Manchester City being deemed guilty of breaking the Premier League’s financial rules.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, the former City assistant manager asserted that he would not be making a comment until the issue is fully resolved.

“Obviously, I think it’s very important that we respect the process, I think the timelines, and it’s still an ongoing process that is not resolved, because it’s been appealed,” Arteta said.

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An independent commission found that City artificially inflated almost 900 million pounds using “sham” contracts from 2009 to 2018. The club, however, has always denied the charges and has lodged an appeal.

Arteta was asked whether the noise around City could maybe inspire Maresca’s players to give even more on the pitch.

“I don’t know, that’s something that’s not in our hands,” he said.

“In our hands it’s the way we have prepared, since all the internationals are back, to be in the best possible condition, to be better than Leeds tomorrow and beat them, and that’s where the focus has been,” Arteta added.