Pep Guardiola gives telling reaction after Haaland, Walker and Grealish bust-up

Tempers flared at the final whistle as Gabriel Martinelli’s late deflected winner knocked Manchester City off top spot. Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jovic, formerly on Pep Guardiola’s staff, appeared to square up to Kyle Walker before Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish joined in, with Bukayo Saka helping security staff to split the group up before it became too heated.

But Guardiola warned darkly his side would be “back stronger” after the international break. “I know what happened but I will not tell,” he said. “They know it. It is football, we lost the game. We will come back stronger.

“I know these players for many years and what we have done together. It is an honour and a privilege to seem them running and fighting.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, on the other hand, is still finding out what his players can achieve.

“I am so proud,” he said, insisting he was unaware of any incidents after the final whistle. “It was the moment with the right people and the right players. We knew we would have to suffer and we did that. You need a big performance and the crowd too. It feels like a big win.

“It is just part of the journey. You learn from every defeat. But the team is so willing. It is a joy to work with them. We have to live this moment, we have to carry on. Certainly it sends a message to the team to keep believing in what they’re doing because they’re a fantastic group of players. The way they try and the chemistry that they have, you need it to be there.”

Meanwhile, Saka looks set to miss the England double header against Australia and Italy after failing to train all week.

Technically, he is still due to report to St George’s Park on Monday, but Arsenal medical staff were in conversations with their England counterparts after the 1-0 win over Manchester City to try to persuade them there is no point in him travelling.

Certainly manager Arteta is convinced he would not be able to take part even in the second game – a Euro 2024 qualifier against England’s closest rivals.

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“No, he couldn’t make it,” Arteta said. “He hasn’t had a single training session so he will be out. He’s not available to play football at the moment.”

Saka watched the game from behind the dugout after pulling his hamstring while attempting a back-heel against Lens on Tuesday and being forced to hobble off before half-time.

In naming his squad on Thursday, Southgate had been adamant that he would not be bullied out of picking his best players for competitive games.

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