Guardiola breaks silence on City verdict as Arsenal watch on

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Pep Guardiola has spoken publicly for the first time since Manchester City were found guilty of 114 financial charges by the Premier League, declaring his continued support for his former employers as Arsenal and the rest of the top flight await the next stage of the process.

The Premier League confirmed the outcome following an eight-week hearing that took place nearly two years ago. An independent panel found that City breached numerous financial regulations across a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018.

Guardiola, who left City earlier this summer after a decade in charge, posted on X alongside images from his time at the club: "I want every single @ManCity fan to know I am here; more than ever."

He added: "I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman [Khaldoon Al Mubarak], Ferran [Soriano], the players, staff, Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters. Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all."

The findings and the scale of the numbers

The panel's verdict stated that City had been "relying on sham agreements to artificially inflate the club's revenues and reduce its costs". Only one element of the case — a portion of the charges relating to a failure to co-operate with the Premier League's investigation — could not be proven.

According to The Times, the practices identified allowed City to boost their financial position by around £900million, a figure that left Premier League clubs stunned when the detail emerged.

City have maintained their innocence throughout the investigation, which began in February 2023, and that position has not changed since the announcement. CEO Ferran Soriano formally confirmed the club's intention to appeal the decision.

Guardiola, for his part, previously said he would quit the club with immediate effect if he discovered they had been lying to him about their belief in their own innocence.

Where Arsenal stand

Arsenal are among the clubs directly affected by the period in question, along with Chelsea and Tottenham. Between 2009 and 2018, the Gunners went through the tail end of the Arsene Wenger era while City assembled the squads that reshaped the top of English football.

Most top-flight sides want City to be relegated as punishment, while others are preparing legal action. However, any sanctions or compensation claims can only follow the appeal hearing, and only if the original verdict is upheld.

English clubs have pushed for the matter to be resolved by the end of the season. That timeline looks far from certain — Soriano told members of the European Football Clubs board in Copenhagen on Monday that "it's going to take a lot more time" before the process is complete.

For now, City's Premier League titles from that era remain intact and under scrutiny, with the appeal set to determine whether any punishment follows. Arsenal, like every other club in the division, will be waiting on the outcome.