Arteta Insists He Wants Best For City Following UCL Ban

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that he wants only the best for former employers Manchester City, even though a European ban for the English champions could give Arsenal another route into next season's Champions League.

Arsenal defeated Newcastle 4-0 on Sunday to rise to 10th position in the Premier League, just six points below Tottenham who occupy the fifth position.

Unless Manchester City are able to overturn the two-season ban handed down by Uefa on Friday at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a fifth-place finish will be enough to secure a Champions League spot.

Arteta, who left his role as an assistant to Guardiola in December to take the managerial reins at Arsenal could now be the beneficiary of his former club's punishment.

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However, the Spaniard has refused to take delight in the situation. Speaking to reporters after his team's defeat of Newcastle, he said, "It's very difficult. I want the best for Manchester City, the best for Pep (Guardiola) and the players. The only thing I want for them is positive and good things,

"I just want to do for Arsenal the best I can."

Arsenal's recent victory was just the second in eight league games since Arteta took charge and there was plenty of encouragement for the 37-year-old in Arsenal's second-half performance after a tepid first-half display.

"We talked before the game that we wanted to turn draws into wins," added Arteta after a run of six draws in eight games.

"The first half it was a little bit slow, but the way they play with a low block, you can get frustrated. We improved much more in the second half."