CHRIS SUTTON says Kyle Walker was ‘right to react’ during post-match bust-up with Arsenal coach on It’s All Coming Up

• Kyle Walker was involved in a touchline scuffle after Arsenal’s win over Man City 
• Mail Sport’s CHRIS SUTTON explains why the full-back was ‘right to react’ 
• Click HERE to listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ 

Chris Sutton has claimed Kyle Walker was ‘right to react’ if he was provoked during his post-match bust-up with one of the Arsenal coaches on Sunday night. 

The England defender was captured squaring up to set-piece coach Nicolas Jover after he offered Walker a handshake that was rebuffed following Man City’s 1-0 defeat.

Walker’s team-mate Erling Haaland intervened as tensions boiled over between the two sides, as did Emirates security, but the fracas continued as the England international was escorted down the tunnel. 

It later emerged the incident was a result of Manchester City ’s agitation at the Arsenal coach’s behaviour last season.

Mail Sport understands that Jover’s refusal to shake hands with City stars after last year’s two league fixtures – both of which Arsenal lost – was seen as disrespectful by the champions.

Chris Sutton has backed Kyle Walker following his bust-up with an Arsenal coach on Sunday

The FA will not take action over Kyle Walker’s bust-up with Gunners coach Nicolas Jover  

Walker squared up to his former set-piece coach after the final whistle on Man City’s defeat 

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Sources branded the 41-year-old a ‘hypocrite’ for actively seeking out Walker after Arsenal had landed a blow in the title race. Jover is said to have kept his hands firmly behind his back and showed ‘no interest’ in pleasantries following the defeats.

Many have said the touchline bust-up was unnecessary but Sutton, speaking on It’s All Kicking Off, suggested that it may have been the right reaction from the City ful back. 

Sutton reflected on the incident with co-host Ian Ladyman, who said: ‘There was a bust up – or what we like to call a bust up in our trade at full time.

‘Nicholas Jover had a row with Kyle Walker as Walker left the field. Jover used to work at City. The two people would know each other. Sore losers, City?’

Sutton then fired back: ‘Well first of all, we don’t know what was said.’

Ladyman then replied: ‘No, but I do know what I saw, which was that Walker refused Hover’s handshake. That is what I did see.’

Sutton then suggested: ‘But Hover may have said something to him. I don’t know what was said. 

‘So, you know, it’s very difficult to comment if there was an insult thrown, or, you know, we don’t know if it was a, sort of, get it up you Kyle, then he was right to react. 

Walker was angry at full-time and the confrontation sparked a fracas near the Emirates tunnel

Ian Ladyman said Roy Keane would have welcomed the fiery scenes at the end of the match

‘What do we know? [That] Manchester City have been serial winners over the last three years in the Premier League, and sort of longer overall, and they don’t like losing. Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser.’

Ladyman then chimed in to say: ‘I’m with you on that. It’s actually kind of something that Roy Keane often kind of parrots on television about. 

‘He thinks football’s got too friendly, too much kind of shirt swapping all the rest of it. I think I’m with him a little bit on that. I think you should feel pretty hacked off when you’ve just lost a game like that.’

The FA have chosen not to take action. The governing body are thought to have made the decision not to pursue the matter due to the speedy resolution of the spat, which was broken up at pace. 

But Man City manager Pep Guardiola lightly fanned the flames of tension when asked about the incident on Sunday, saying: ‘I know what happened, but I won’t say anything. They (Arsenal) know it.’

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