Gyokeres can't hide smirk as Potter jokes about Man City verdict

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Viktor Gyokeres was sat alongside Graham Potter when the Sweden manager decided to work Manchester City's guilty verdict into his injury update — and the Arsenal striker couldn't keep a straight face.

Potter, speaking ahead of Sweden's Nations League meeting with Bosnia and Herzegovina, was explaining a wave of withdrawals from his squad caused by illness. "We've been hit by an infection or a bug, whatever," he said. "Not ideal, but it happens. We've called in some players who have been fantastic. In terms of how many withdrawals, I think we have had a similar number to Man City's charges."

The line landed in silence in the press room. Potter followed up with a flat clarification: "It was a joke." Gyokeres, selected as the player to accompany his manager at the press conference, was visibly fighting back a smile as the former Chelsea boss delivered the jibe.

The backdrop to Potter's dig

The verdict in question was published on Tuesday afternoon, finding that City had artificially inflated their finances to the tune of close to £900million through money pumped into the club by their Abu Dhabi owners across a nine-year period.

City deny wrongdoing and confirmed on Friday that they have lodged an appeal. In a statement, the club said: "The club's firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe. The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete."

Under new Premier League rules, a hearing must be staged within 12 weeks of an appeal being lodged, with a decision due within 30 days of a hearing that can last a maximum of five days.

Why Arsenal are watching closely

Gyokeres' amusement is understandable given his employer's position in all of this. City finished second behind Arsenal in last season's Premier League title race, and any sanction — whether a points deduction or a transfer ban — would have direct consequences for the competitive landscape at the top of the division.

As for City's defence, Daily Mail Sport reported on Thursday that the club will argue the disputed sponsorship money came from the government of Abu Dhabi rather than from owners Abu Dhabi United Group, the private company owned by Sheikh Mansour. Sponsorship arrangements with government-owned companies are commonplace across the Premier League, particularly with airlines, and are not prohibited.

City are said to be leaning on bank statements and witness accounts they describe as "irrefutable evidence" when the case is put before a new panel.

For now, Gyokeres' focus turns back to Sweden duty with Potter's depleted squad, before the Arsenal forward rejoins Mikel Arteta's group after the international break.