It was a heated moment as former Manchester City assistant manager Mikel Arteta was pushed aside by Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne in the top of the table clash on Wednesday.
A visibly angry Kevin De Bruyne shoved Mikel Arteta after the current Arsenal gaffer tried kicking the ball away from the Belgian.
The Cityzens got a throw-in after Gabriel’s actions led to the ball going out for a throw-in, just five minutes into the commencement of hostilities in the second half.
Mikel Arteta’s ploy in frustrating the side from Manchester was to reduce the pace of the encounter as the ball moved towards his direction.
Kevin De Bruyne went to get the ball but the former assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City shielded it with his body and kicked it away.
The Belgian national team captain went ahead to hit the ball but instead and unfortunately he struck the shins of Mikel Arteta before pushing Arteta away due to anger.
After Kevin De Bruyne got the ball, he then put his finger in Arteta’s face as a way to show his discontent with what the Arsenal gaffer did.
Grant Xhaka, a senior figure in the Arsenal dressing room then went further to show his displeasure with the Belgian for shoving his coach.
The fourth official for the important battle on Wednesday, Darren England also moved to ease the tension between the pair.
Also, two members of the Gunners Backroom staff stepped up to ease the heated tension between the two former pals.
Scottish Legend Ally McCoist on the actions of Kevin De Bruyne
Scotland legend Ally McCoist thought that Kevin De Bruyne’s shove on Mikel Arteta was unsportsmanlike while speaking to Amazon Prime.
“I know what he was up to Arteta, but I’m not sure it deserved that reaction,” he said.
“But he was being a bit naughty. Watch, he takes it away there and then gets a little shove for his efforts. But do you know what it’s done? It’s got the crowd going.”
Kevin De Bruyne had taken Manchester City into the lead with an electric strike over Aaron Ramsdale after Takehiro Tomiyasu’s made an error which led to the ball getting to Kevin De Bruyne who took advantage for the Cityzens.
Bukayo Saka scored for Arsenal from the spot kick in the eighteen yard box before Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland completed the job as Manchester City defeated Arsenal 1-3.
Newcastle United great Alan Shearer offered lots of praise to the Belgian after his beautiful goal and he gave the Belgian midfielder massive plaudits as he dubbed him “world-class” after he was left astonished by how fantastic the strike was.
Alan Shearer on the game and his world class tag on Kevin De Bruyne
Alan Shearer speaking with Amazon Prime said: “I think they’ve responded really well, Arsenal, first of all from missing a big chance and then conceding the goal in the way they did. It’s a huge error, he (Tomiyasu) doesn’t need anyone to tell him that, but what about the finish – how cool was he?”.
“He reads it really well, you’ve got to smell the danger, you’ve got to think he’s going to make an error here and gamble, and that’s what good players do and he got his reward in the end for doing that.
Alan Shearer further added:
“Huge error from Tomiyasu, I’m not sure if he sees him there but if he doesn’t he should do. Poor back pass, but that is a very, very difficult finish to complete. His left foot, the way he finishes.
“His awareness of where he is, where the goalkeeper is, to get the direction on it like that, wow. What a finish that is. It was just world class. The one player you don’t want it to fall to on the pitch is Kevin de Bruyne.”
With three minutes left to play in the game, Pep Guardiola substituted Kevin De Bruyne who walked through a section where some Arsenal fans sat and some supporters in disgust started throwing water bottles at the midfielder.
De Bruyne looked not to have been hit by the water bottles that were targeted at him and he was seen smiling at the individuals culpable for it.
The Belgian midfielder disregarded and turned a blind eye to all those actions which basically tells the story of how important a victory it was for Manchester City over Arsenal.
It was a keenly contested battle on Wednesday night, with Manchester City taking the full three points and usurping Arsenal on the Premier League table, Albeit, Arsenal still have a game in hand.
