Arsenal have discovered when Manchester City could serve any punishment for breaching Premier League financial rules, charges they are continue to appeal against

Arsenal are now expected to find out this season what Premier League sanctions will be imposed on Manchester City if their appeal against the independent commission's decision fails.

The Gunners are six points clear of City in the table after the Blues suffered three consecutive league defeats before the international break. However, neither team have played each other yet this term, with their first meeting being at Emirates Stadium later this month.

City are then due to host Arsenal in the reverse fixture in late January. By then, it may well be known what sanctions will be handed down by the Premier League.

They have been found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the league's financial rules over a nine-season period between 2009/10 and 2017/18. The club were also found culpable for the majority of charges relating to their failure to co-operate with the league's investigation until 2023.

City's appeal hearing is set to start in mid-December, The Financial Times reports. It is said that proceedings could run over several days, with a judgement expected in the new year.

The commission concluded that City employed "sham" sponsorship arrangements to conceal over £830million of owner Sheikh Mansour's personal funds as legitimate income and nearly £17m in undisclosed payments to personnel and players.

City swiftly and strongly contested these conclusions, labelling them "unsafe" and, on October 1, submitted an appeal. According to Premier League regulations, a distinct three-member Appeal Board must examine the case within 12 weeks.

A ruling on penalties will subsequently be reached should the appeal prove unsuccessful. The Premier League rulebook grants the independent commission the authority to impose any sanction it deems appropriate, ranging from points deductions to full expulsion from the top flight.

Expulsion can only be recommended by the commission, however, and a vote would then be put to member clubs. A total of 15 clubs would have to back the move for it to pass.

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At present, it remains unclear when those sanctions, should they be handed down and the appeal fail, would take effect, whether during this Premier League campaign or the next. While the report suggests that the outcome of the appeal and any prospective punishment may be determined in 2027, the final legal resolution might not be reached until the following year or even 2029.

City are expected to contend at next month's hearing that the disputed sponsorship funding originated from the Abu Dhabi government as a sovereign body rather than from a private company. Upon lodging their appeal, they stated the commission's ruling contained "clear material errors of law, principle and fact."

It is not a re-trial, and the club must prove legal or procedural errors. City retain the right to lodge a separate appeal against whatever sanctions they might ultimately face.