Arsenal's Mikel Arteta makes subtle swipe at Man City ahead of Champions League clash

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has suggested that Manchester City should not have won the Champions League in the 2022/23 season.

Pep Guardiola's side created history last year when they became only the second club in England to win the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in a single season. The crowning accomplishment came in Istanbul when Rodri fired home the winner just over 20 minutes from time to win the Manchester club their first Champions League trophy.

The result was momentous and few could argue that City deserved the success over the course of the campaign, especially after beating Real Madrid in the build-up to the final. However, Arteta has claimed City were not deserving of the victory on the night during his press conference.

Speaking in Lisbon, Arteta was asked for his thoughts on Arsenal's form to which the Spaniard replied: "I think we have made the right steps. Looking back with the way we played against Inter, which is a team that has been so dominant in their league, reached the final of the Champions League which they should have won..."

While City were able to get the win that night against Inter, the Gunners were defeated by the Italian giants in the San Siro already this season. Hakan Calhanoglu's penalty in stoppage time was enough to split the two sides and add extra importance to Tuesday night's clash with Sporting.

Arsenal will move level on points with second place Sporting if they can beat them in Lisbon this week. They come into the Champions League in buoyant mood after a 6-0 win at the weekend in the cup.

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The last time they played in the Champions League, Ruben Amorim was still manager of the club however he has since left to join Manchester United. That night, they thrashed City 4-1 to cement their spot in the top eight.

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