Mikel Arteta has said he feels “clear‑conscience” about the financial‑rule breaches uncovered at Manchester City, a statement that came after the club was found to have used “sham contracts” to inflate revenue during the period he served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant. The independent commission’s report, released on 9 October 2026, revealed that City had artificially increased their income by £830 million between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons. City have appealed the findings and deny any wrongdoing, but the investigation covered the two years in which Arteta was part of the coaching staff.
During a tightly controlled press conference, Arteta answered a journalist’s question about his conscience with a simple “yes.” He has repeatedly stated that he will not elaborate until the outcome of City’s appeal is known. The Arsenal manager, who signed a new four‑year contract this week, was asked whether his memories of working at City had been tainted. He declined to comment, noting that the matter remains unresolved and that he would only speak with clarity once the appeal is finished.
Arteta’s tenure at City spanned three and a half seasons, including the 2016/17 and 2017/18 campaigns that saw the club win back‑to‑back Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups. The commission’s report highlighted that City’s sponsorship income was inflated by £264.3 million during those two seasons, a period that saw the signings of John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Bernardo Silva, Ederson and Kyle Walker. Arteta was not asked to comment on whether he was pleased to have won the Premier League title for Arsenal before the verdict; he instead spoke about the pride and emotion he feels when recalling Arsenal’s triumphs.
When questioned about the impact of the City verdict on the Premier League’s reputation, Arteta reiterated his belief that the league remains the best in the world. He acknowledged that the allegations could damage the competition’s image, but he expressed uncertainty about the extent of that damage. “I want to think it doesn’t hurt the Premier League, but I don’t know,” he said, adding that the league’s future depends on the collective efforts of its clubs.
City’s appeal is still pending, and the outcome will determine whether the club must face sanctions or paybacks. For now, Arteta remains focused on Arsenal’s campaign, while the Premier League continues to defend its integrity amid the controversy.