KEVIN DE BRUYNE shoved Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta as tempers flared in Manchester City’s title showdown at the Emirates.
The Belgian pushed the Spaniard out of the way on the touchline as he wrestled to get the ball back and take a throw-in.
De Bruyne was hoping to start a quick counter-attack with scores tied at 1-1 but could not retrieve the ball as Arteta shielded it from him and it appeared he even kicked the ball away.
The Man City star tried to tackle his former assistant coach and ended up giving him a push.
On his return to the pitch De Bruyne pointed and said something angrily to the title chasing manager he looked after for three years as Pep Guardiola’s apprentice.
Arteta is no stranger to controversy due to his touchline antics this season.
He has been booked for his protesting of decisions that have gone against Arsenal and had spats with opposing managers in the technical area.
Fans could not believe what they were witnessing, one said: “Can’t lie, the Arsenal boss has had that coming to him all season.”
Another commented: “Didn’t push him hard enough in my opinion.”
Tempers flared throughout the game, the first to lose his cool was Kyle Walker.
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The right-back raged after getting a yellow card from the referee.
The 32-year-old waved his arms around furiously at the man with the whistle Anthony Taylor.
De Bruyne had scored the opener for City after capitalising on Takehiro Tomiyasu’s weak backpass.
Bukayo Saka levelled from the spot after a controversial penalty decision.
But Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland sealed the points for City after the break to help the champions leapfrog the Gunners at the top of the Premier League.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk