Arsenal set-piece coach labelled ‘hypocrite’ as reason behind Man City bust-up comes to light

The real reason behind Kyle Walker’s public spat with Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has been explained.

A handshake caused the Sunday evening touchline fracas at the Emirates between Erling Haaland and Kyle Walker with Arsenal set-piece coach Nicholas Jover.

Following the intense clash, which saw Gabriel Martinelli’s late deflected strike win the game for the Gunners 1-0, Jover, who used to work for Man City, offered Walker a handshake as he was about to head down the tunnel at the Emirates.

However, the England international was left incensed by the offer from Jover, instead squared up to him before teammate Erling Haaland joined them. Multiple members of staff and players from the two teams got involved to try and diffuse the situation.

“I know what happened, but I don’t want to say anything, They [Arsenal] know it,” Guardiola said.

Given the nature of the gesture, many were left perplexed by the incident, though the Daily Mail report that Walker did not take kindly to Jover’s offering as he refused to shake his hand after City beat Arsenal last season.

City players felt that Jover was ‘disrespectful’ after they beat Arsenal twice in the 2022/23 campaign, with the former set-piece coach said to have kept his hands behind his back following both defeats which proved somewhat decisive in the title race.

As a result, the 41-year-old was branded a ‘hypocrite’ by sources for actively seeking handshakes after Arsenal had got the better of his former side – with sources claiming that Jover specifically picked out Walker to engage with as he left the pitch.

The FA have reportedly decided that the England right-back will not face any punishment for his actions against Arsenal.

Taking to social media after the game, Walker had a message for supporters: “Back to back defeats is a level we cannot and will not accept.

“We have a period of time now to put things right and regroup and show everyone our true level. Thank you for your support today.”