Mikel Arteta was asked about Manchester City's breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations ahead of Arsenal vs Leeds
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta refused to be drawn on the Man City case during his Leeds press conference
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Mikel Arteta insists his conscience is clear after an independent commission found his former club Manchester City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
The Spaniard was previously Pep Guardiola’s assistant coach at the Etihad Stadium for in the region of three-and-a-half years before later taking up his first managerial post with the Gunners in December 2019.
City roared to win two Premier League titles and a domestic Treble during Arteta's time at the club but he largely refused to be drawn on the saga during his press conference ahead of Saturday's lunchtime clash with Leeds United.
Other top-flight bosses such as Sunderland's Regis Le Bris and Nottingham Forest's Oliver Glasner have publicly upped the pressure on decision-makers to resolve the case amid fears it is damaging the integrity of the Premier League .
When asked if his conscience was clear given the time he spent with City, Arteta replied firmly: "Yes."
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The 44-year-old, fresh off the back of signing a new long-term contract at the Emirates this week, was also pitched a number of other City-related questions, though he instead outlined his desire to continue focusing on the task at hand at Arsenal as the north London side seek to defend their Premier League crown.
The Gunners are among four clubs alongside Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham that have reserved the right to pursue legal action for potential damages which could complicate the process further down the line. City officially lodged their appeal last week.
Arteta explained when first quizzed on the charges: "Well, yes, I fully understand the question, but obviously I think it's very important that we respect the process, the timelines, and it's still an ongoing process that is not resolved because it's been appealed. My position, and I think the club's position, is not to make any further comments until this is fully resolved."
Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola
Mikel Arteta previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant during his time at Manchester City(Image: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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He later continued when pressed again on the independent commission's verdict: “This has been going on for various years and the process is still not finished. So it's very difficult to express how I feel, because it is not resolved. When it is resolved I can talk with clarity and tell you exactly how I feel.
“I think we control our accelerator, and believe me, for seven years, it's been full gas in everything that we can do, and take every corner at max speed, but understanding what our strength and the things that we can do.
"This is something that's not in our hands. In our hands is the way we have prepared. That's where the focus has been.”