Arteta urges 'respect' for process after Man City financial verdict

LONDON: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said it was vital to "respect the process" after Manchester City were found guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules.

City's fate is uncertain after last week's bombshell announcement but they could face substantial points deductions, a fine or even expulsion from the top division.

The Abu Dhabi-backed club remains adamant it has done nothing wrong and has appealed against the findings, which relate to the period between 2009/10 and 2017/18.

Arteta was former City manager Pep Guardiola's assistant for three years from 2016 before leaving to join Arsenal, a team he had previously captained.

He faced the press on Friday for the first time in three weeks following the international break, and was asked about his former club.

"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 told reporters.

"And my position, I think the club's position, is not to make any further comments until this is fully resolved."

The Spaniard, whose club host Leeds on Saturday, said he was confident the situation would be "resolved in the right way."

Arsenal have twice finished as Premier League runners-up to City in recent years but came out on top in a two-horse race last season, being crowned champions for the first time since 2004.

Enzo Maresca's City are top of the table after five wins out of five in the early weeks of the campaign, three points ahead of Arsenal, who suffered a shock 3-0 defeat by Brighton last month.

Arteta, who this week signed a new long-term deal at the Emirates, was asked whether the noise around City would potentially inspire Maresca's players to give even more.

"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." - AFP