According to reports from English media, Arsenal CEO Richard Garlick stated that all parties in the Premier League hope for a clear resolution regarding Man City's financial misconduct case as soon as possible.

Garlick told BBC Sport that the matter has dragged on for some time, and the league along with all clubs want to know what will happen next as soon as possible. However, he emphasized that this is not something he can control or predict, and he simply hopes for a swift resolution.

Garlick's comments came on the eve of the new season. Earlier, Premier League CEO Richard Masters acknowledged that the case is taking longer than expected and understands the public's desire for an update, but he cannot provide answers.

Masters described the matter as "extremely complex" and stated that Premier League rules are very clear, procedures must be followed, and the only clear path is to let the process proceed naturally.

Garlick previously served as Premier League Director of Football from 2018 to 2021. Insiders from several Premier League clubs interviewed by BBC Sport privately expressed their frustration, but they also acknowledged that this is an independent process that can only proceed at its own pace.

Another source revealed that the Premier League spent £45 million on legal fees related to financial rule disputes during the 2023-2024 season, with growing concerns about the escalating costs of this prolonged legal battle.

Man City currently faces charges including: failing to provide accurate financial information, including details of player and coaching staff wages, for seasons 2009-10 to 2017-18; breaching UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules for seasons 2013-14 to 2017-18; and violating the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules for seasons 2015-16 to 2017-18.

Man City also faces multiple charges of failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 to February 2023.

As runners-up last season, Arsenal finished behind Man City in both 2023 and 2024, trailing by just 2 points last season. Reports indicate that Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham served legal notices on Man City in 2024, reserving the right to claim damages if the club is found guilty, with some clubs estimating potential damages exceeding £100 million.

Everton was informed in June that it must pay Burnley £35 million in compensation to offset the impact of breaching Premier League financial rules, which may also heighten other clubs' attention to this case.

While most would agree that Garlick is simply echoing the sentiment of nearly everyone in English football about this unresolved matter, it is uncommon for leading club executives to publicly break their silence and directly address the issue. Last year, former Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy also stated the issue had dragged on "too long," but there have been few similar public statements before that.

It is hardly surprising that Man City's rivals are frustrated by the delay. The club spent £151 million during the summer transfer window, including a record £116 million on English midfielder Elliot Anderson.

Since being charged in February 2023, Man City has spent nearly £700 million on new signings and won six major trophies during this period, while they and other clubs remain in a state of uncertainty.

Regarding whether Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri will be sold, Garlick affirmed that Arsenal is not actively seeking to sell these academy players, but if it suits both the player and the club, the Premier League champions will consider suitable opportunities.

The 19-year-old Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri have both been linked with moves this summer, including transfers to Premier League rivals. Since both are academy products of Arsenal, any sale would be recorded as pure profit on the club's books, helping balance their finances under the Premier League's new squad cost ratio rules.

The new rules mean clubs can spend up to 85% of their revenue on transfer fees, wages, and contract costs, but for teams competing in European competitions, this ratio is reduced to 70%.

When asked whether the club needs to sell players to comply with the rules, Garlick said that every club nowadays uses a player trading model. Given how football operates today and the associated costs, generating revenue through player sales is rational.

He said he would not call it necessary, but from a management perspective, as long as opportunities arise and suit the club, Arsenal will explore them.

When asked if he would prefer Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri to stay at Arsenal, Garlick said he cannot prevent other clubs from showing interest in them. Lewis-Skelly performed well at the end of last season and has started this season well, and the club is very pleased with him. Nwaneri also played well during preseason, and it is important to see what opportunities might help both players continue their careers.

Arsenal is not actively considering selling these academy players, but if suitable opportunities arise for both the player and the club, the club will certainly consider them.

In a somewhat chaotic transfer window, Arsenal's efforts to sign Vinícius and Morgan Rogers this summer were unsuccessful, but Garlick remains hopeful the team can continue strengthening by adding players who can make the club stronger.

Garlick said that if Arsenal is competing for the Premier League title or the Champions League, they need to bring in a certain caliber of player, and he believes there are fewer such world-class players available now than a few years ago.

He added that Arsenal's current squad is very competitive, and if there is still an opportunity to sign a player who can improve the team's strength in the coming weeks, the club will seriously consider it.

Garlick also expressed confidence about manager Mikel Arteta's contract situation. The manager has led the team to victory with just 12 months remaining on his current contract.

He said that Arteta wants to stay at Arsenal, and the club also wants to keep Arteta. Both parties will eventually put this into a new contract. Everyone is very confident and calm, and now they just need to resolve the transfer window first, and he believes Arteta's contract will be sorted soon.

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