Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has refused to be drawn on the Premier League’s extensive charge sheet against Manchester City in his first press conference since Monday’s bombshell revelations. 

Arteta, 40, spent three years with the reigning champions as an assistant to Pep Guardiola, with a number of the 115 alleged offences levelled at City supposedly taking place while he was at the club, during their most successful ever era. 

‘I’m not going to make any comment on that, I’m sorry,’ he told his pre-Brentford press conference. 

However, having refused to answer questions on the matter, Arteta was then asked if he had seen anything untoward going on at the club, to which he replied simply ‘No’. 

Arteta’s refusal to be drawn on the matter comes amid speculation over what might happen to City should they be found guilty of the offences the Premier League allege they have committed.

Mikel Arteta has refused to be drawn on the charges levelled against Manchester City 

The charges range from the first full season under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour and Abu Dhabi in 2009-10 to the present day. 

These include allegations that the club were not honest about player and manager renumeration, particularly that of Roberto Mancini, who it is alleged was paid more than his yearly salary at City by a club in Abu Dhabi for a mere four days’ work. 

Meanwhile, it is also alleged between the period concerning 2009-10 all the way up to 2017-18, the season City won their first of four Premier League crowns under Guardiola, the club were not honest about their financial position, mainly related to its revenue.

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Arteta (R) was an assistant to Pep Guardiola for three years during one of the club’s most successful ever periods

Speaking to the media this afternoon ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Aston Villa, Guardiola launched an impassioned defence of his club, saying they had already been ‘condemned’.   

‘We are already being condemned. What’s happened this week it’s the same that happened with UEFA – we were condemned, we had an acquisition then, now we have just charges,’ he said. 

‘What they told me before the club proved we were completely innocent. Why should we not think we are innocent – it’s just charges rather than acquisition.

‘You have to understand the 19 PL teams are accusing it without our opportunity to defend. Our people explain everything in the last three or four years. You know what side I’m on.’

Arteta provided an update on Gabriel Jesus – saying the Brazilian was continuing to get better

Asked about his injury list, Arteta provided encouragement that the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith-Rowe will be back in action soon, but urged caution and patience over their returns.

‘Emile, Reiss, Gabi Jesus are closer. They are doing some activities, they have been outside,’ he said. 

In addition, Arteta was asked how he is striving to keep his players focused and ready for Brentford off the back of consecutive defeats at City in the FA Cup and Everton in the league last weekend. 

‘A lot of energy, I am an energy giver. I don’t like energy suckers. I just like to give. I like people who give energy in many different ways. Whether that be body language, tone of voice, hugging people, looking for solutions and not excuses,’ he said.