Unapologetic Manchester City defender, Kyle Walker in tears as has explained what led to the clash in the tunnel following their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League.

Unapologetic Manchester City defender, Kyle Walker in tears as has explained what led to the clash in the tunnel following their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League.

The tight affair was decided by Gabriel Martinelli’s late strike at the Emirates.
Tempers flared after the match, with Walker and Erling Haaland among those visibly angry as the players left the field in north London.

When asked about the incident while on England duty this week, Walker said: “I don’t like losing. A couple of matches before, Nico, who worked for Man City, did not want to shake hands when we beat them before.
“When we lost, he wanted to shake my hand and I did not take it lightly. Simple as that.

“I have been concentrating on England but I will probably reach out to him, definitely. I will say, it was probably a bit too much.”
De Bruyne has been the torchbearer for Manchester City during his stay but does a successor soon need to be identified?
He Is perhaps the next in line for a statue at the Etihad and may go down as the best player to ever don a Blues jersey. He helped City reach the promised land as the Treble was secured but this summer there seems to have been a slight shift in forward planning.

Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte – players who were all major cogs of the City dynasty under Pep Guardiola – left this summer and the club had to think laterally about the future.

Josko Gvardiol and Jeremy Doku, both 21, have added renewed hunger to the side while Mateo Kovacic has offered valuable experience to the midfield. The team are going through a rough patch having lost three of the last four matches but Premier League followers will surmise that this is probably just a blip before the juggernaut truly starts rolling.

Rodri has shown to be City’s most important player in De Bruyne’s long-term injury absence. City lost all three matches he was banned for following his red card against Nottingham Forest last month.

City have, though, somewhat managed to cope without De Bruyne. Of course he is missed and Erling Haaland has not had the service this season he was accustomed to last term given the playmaker’s unavailability.

Julian Alvarez has played superbly in De Bruyne’s spot, efficiently duetting with Phil Foden when the England star cuts inside from the wing. It is taking two players to make up for the loss of De Bruyne, so great is the talisman.

The defeat to Arsenal was a blow but City remain just two points off top spot while they have won both Champions League matches so far. De Bruyne turned 32 this summer and it seems his age is catching up with him.

Guardiola was keen to rest him at various points over the last few seasons and his current absence is an explanation as to why. De Bruyne came off hurt in the season’s opener against Burnley and now may not be back until deep into the festive period.

The remaining 18 months or so left on his deal will be important in regards to his long-term role within City’s side. City will never want to let the Belgian go and perhaps the player feels the same.

But amid age and injuries, Guardiola may need to decide whether a replacement needs to be pinpointed down the line, be that in-house or from an external source. The Catalan has built a dynasty at the Etihad and that requires forward planning.

So, do City continue to plan around him or should they prepare for a new leader? De Bruyne will always be the main character at the club but the time between now and a probable renewal may hold the answer.