MIKEL ARTETA gave a blunt response when asked if he had witnessed anything “untoward” during his time at Manchester City.
The Arsenal boss was City’s assistant manager between 2016 and 2019 before moving to the Emirates.
The Premier League champions are now under investigation for 115 alleged financial breaches over a number of years.
The punishments for the club could be extremely serious both on and off the pitch – with points deductions and relegation on the table.
Ahead of Arsenal’s home game against Brentford, Arteta was asked by reporters if he ever saw anything “untoward” at the club.
His response was blunt and brief with the Spaniard replying simply: “no.”
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When pressed for answers, Arteta would only add: “I’m not going to make any comment on that, I’m sorry.”
Premier League bosses have been facing questions on the bombshell allegations levelled at Man City, not least Pep Guardiola.
But the 52-year-old had a bullish tone as he came out defending his club.
He told reporters today: “My first thought is already that we have been condemned.
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“What has happened after Monday is the same as happened with Uefa. We were condemned. We have just a charge.
“Why should when they told me before they defend the accusation from Uefa, the club proved we were completely innocent, why should now be condemned?
“19 teams of the PL are accusing us without the chance to defend and the words of my chairman my CEO my owner explain everything, you know what side I am on.”
When asked whether he believed the charges were driven by their Prem rivals, Guardiola added: “Go to the chairman, CEOs, Daniel Levy, ask them.
“These 19 Premier League have set a precedent. What they [rival PL clubs] have done to us, be careful with that.
“Be careful in the future. Many clubs can make suggestions and there are a lot of clubs that can be accused, like we have been accused.”
City chiefs plan to fight the accusations and could go all the way to the High Court or to the Supreme Court if necessary.
And just as in their victory over Uefa after the Champions League ban three years ago, City will unleash an army of lawyers to defeat the Prem legal team and put the charges to bed for good.
An expert lawyer who advised Boris Johnson over partygate has been drafted in to try and help dig the club out of their situation.
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City are under investigation over the period between 2009 and 2018.
During that time the club won three Premier League titles, including one under current boss Pep Guardiola.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
