MANCHESTER CITY stars Kyle Walker and Erling Haaland were involved in a furious bust-up after the champions were condemned to back-to-back defeats for the first time in almost five years.
Gunners coach Nicolas Jover enraged the duo as they were walking off at The Emirates, a little after Gabriel Martinelli’s 86th-minute winner earned Mikel Arteta his first ever win over City.
The win moved Arsenal level on points with north London rivals Tottenham at the top of the table, trailing Ange Postecoglou’s side on goals scored.
City are two points off the pace but their frustration boiled over at the end when walker squared up to Arsenal set-piece coach Jover.
The Gunners’ dead-ball expert, who joined the club from City in July 2021, said something in the direction of the City bench which enraged Walker, who stormed over to confront Jover supported by Haaland.
A number of City staff and coaches then piled in before Arsenal’s security staff split the two camps and ushered Walker and Haaland down the tunnel – both still clearly upset.
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Unused substitute Jack Grealish also had to be guided down the tunnel and away from trouble while injured Arsenal man Bukayo Saka moved to calm down Jover.
The German-born French assistant was booked during Arsenal’s game earlier this season and is known for being more than happy to share his opinion on the touchline.
City boss Pep Guardiola said: “I know what happened but I don’t want to say anything. They know it.”
Asked if he was happy with Arsenal’s conduct, the City boss added: “Yeah, absolutely.”
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Arsenal boss Arteta claimed that he did not see the altercation.
Despite falling to back-to-back defeats for the first time since December 2018, Guardiola is relaxed about his side’s chances of winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.
City have come from behind in the League before, Arsenal were eight points clear at one point last season, and Guardiola is confident it can be done again.
The Spanish boss said: “No team has ever won four in a row. We are in October. Sometimes it is good going behind, it is not the first time. Last year we were much more behind than here.
“The season is long, people will come back and we play against Brighton and [Manchester] United. Continue. Now we have two defeats in a row and then we have the internationals.
“Hopefully they come back fit and then we go again. Maybe it is a little bit better to be there and see what we have to do to catch them. We know exactly what we have to do and we do it.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
