Football cannot afford to duck the biggest issue in the game right now as Manchester City lodge an appeal against their guilty verdict on 114 charges
Mikel Arteta
Arteta batted away any questions on Man City during his press conference(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Sadly, we were left with more questions than answers.
Mikel Arteta is Arsenal manager but, having worked at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, was always bound to be under the microscope.
City have been found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s spending rules from 2009 to 2018 which covers two of the three-and-a-half years that Arteta was at the Etihad.
Arteta is now manager of City’s biggest rivals and therefore it is totally unrealistic to expect not to be asked about the 115 case.
In fairness to Arteta, he gave some answers but largely avoided questions and tried desperately hard to steer clear of controversy because he said it was an “ongoing process.”
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Well, it is to a point. But the fact is that City have been found guilty and are now appealing the verdict. And that, in the real world, means you can have a say and an opinion.
Arteta ventured that the Premier League is still the best in the world. Well, right now, a lot of fans will be wondering whether we can say that any more.
Certainly, on the back of a few managers - Michael Carrick, Oliver Glasner and Regis Le Bris to name but three Premier League bosses - they have got a lot of questions and criticisms.
Carrick said football and indeed sport is all about the glory in the moment. "In football, the strive to win, the emotion and the feeling about winning, a lot of it is in the moment.
”You can't take that back. It's the moment you strive for. That's essentially what we're all in it for. That's the feeling we all crave.
Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola
Arteta was Pep Guardiola's assistant for three and a half years at Manchester City(Image: Getty)
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"The beauty of trying to win trophies is a little bit the journey towards it and then the finale. Does it go for you, does it go against you? Once that's done, there's no getting that back in any direction.
"I'm not getting blasé about it, but regardless of anything, in any sport in history, if later on you get the medal, it doesn't bring the feeling of when you initially win or you don't."
Glasner and Le Bris were very strong on the appeal needing to be concluded within the season otherwise the uncertainty will linger.
Some managers would not take questions. So, again, fair play to Arteta for answering any. But it is not enough to dodge the issue.
We have to be realistic on this and say it will damage the reputation and integrity of the Premier League.
Can you possibly imagine if City invoke a siege mentality, grow stronger and win a title in a season in which they have been found guilty of widespread Premier League charges.
That is the biggest danger for the English top flight. The punishment could be dished out while City are still going through the courts.
That is why we need strong voices and hiding behind the “process” will not dampen the anger and frustration from fans who will be wondering whether they can believe what they are seeing any more.
And it is why managers have to accept that is part of their responsibility to tune in and understand fans in this case. That is why it is deeply frustrating when managers and anyone in the game duck the issue.