Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta remains tight-lipped on Man City charges

Arteta served as Pep Guardiola's assistant at City between 2016 and 2019, overlapping with the nine-season period covered by the ruling.

An independent commission found that the club had concealed more than 830 million pounds in funding through arrangements involving sham contracts with several commercial partners.

Asked about the "sham contracts", Arteta said: "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."

He added: "The people are responsible to manage this process and to come to the right conclusions and I'm sure it will be done and it will be resolved in the right way. We have to trust that."

City have appealed the decision, prompting Arteta to maintain that he would refrain from further comment until the proceedings have concluded.

During his first news conference since the ruling, held at Arsenal's training ground, the Spaniard repeatedly stressed the importance of respecting the legal process and its established timelines.

Despite facing more than 30 minutes of questions about the case, Arteta remained firm in his refusal to discuss the details while the appeal remained unresolved.

When asked if his conscience is clear despite his involvement at City, Arteta simply stated: "Yes".