Graham Potter and Mikel Arteta clash in touchline bust-up as tensions boil over during Chelsea vs Arsenal
GRAHAM POTTER and Mikel Arteta had a fiery exchange on the Stamford Bridge touchline after a coming together between Bukayo Saka and Marc Cucurella.
Chelsea left-back Cucurella struggled with the pace and sharpness of Arsenal’s talisman during the first-half of the London derby.
And just before the break he was marshalled off the ball and went down, protesting a foul.
Michael Oliver waved play on, sparking a furious reaction from Gunners boss Arteta, while Potter fumed that Saka had dived.
The opposing managers then confronted each other as tensions almost boiled over on the touchline.
Saka just moments later fouled Cucurella and was shown a yellow for his mistimed tackle.
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That sparked a fierce debate on the touchline with Arteta leaving his technical area to aim some choice words at his opposite number.
Tensions were high inside Stamford Bridge as visiting Arsenal fans also berated former star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Arteta also fumed at the former Gunners captain following a bad tackle on Ben White.
Aubamyang was booked for the challenge but his former manager wanted a red, though he had the last laugh as Aubameyang was hooked on the hour mark after touching the ball just eight times.
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Arsenal also took the lead shortly before that substitution through Gabriel, with the Gunners dominating possession for most of the match.
The game was also stopped during the second half as fans called over doctors for a fan who required medical attention.