Thierry Henry believes that the financial allegations brought against Manchester City spurred them on in their 3-1 victory over Arsenal.
City were last week charged with 115 breaches of financial rules with the club potentially facing a raft of punishments.
The reigning Premier League champions will contend the charges insisting they are innocent of all the allegations, but if found guilty, potential punishments include points deductions and even expulsion.
The saga has not affected their performances on the field, as goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland helped City move top of the Premier League – ahead of Arsenal on goal difference.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry told CBS Sports during their Champions League coverage that he felt the alleged breaches worked in City’s favour against Arsenal.
He said: ‘I feel like teams that win titles cannot lose their control in any moment. Man City, you asked questions at the beginning. I wanted, I wished, I hoped that Arsenal would get the win – I said 2-1 for Arsenal.
‘But City tonight showed you why they are champions, so far, because nobody took that title yet.
‘Since those financial fines, or not fine, or whatever is going to happen to Man City (allegations) I think that little thing did add something extra into City’s mind in that dressing room.’
Fellow pundit Jamie Carragher said that it was a ‘big thing’ while Micah Richards described that City showed ‘siege mentality’ against Arsenal.
Henry went on to add: ‘It changed it as Pep (Guardiola) can say to everybody they don’t want us to win let’s show them we’re the champions. They played as champions.’
The charges against the reigning champions relate to financial information regarding revenue, details of manager and player remuneration, UEFA regulations, profitability and sustainability and co-operation with Premier League investigations.
A statement from the league said alleged breaches were committed from September 2009 to the 2017-18 season and will be referred to an independent commission.
Though City are top of the table, Arsenal do hold a game in hand over their rivals which could move them back top.
City though looked like a team with a point to prove, as they took full advantage of the error-strewn Gunners who climb back to the summit of the Premier League.