England team-mates Declan Rice and Morgan Rogers came to blows during Arsenal‘s Premier League victory over Chelsea on Saturday.
Chelsea were trailing when they launched a late attack through Cole Palmer. Arsenal’s Rice tripped Rogers just as he was about to sprint into the penalty area, and the visitors’ chance of an equaliser went begging as Palmer’s effort drifted wide.
Rogers reacted furiously, springing to his feet to shove Rice and wag a finger at his England team-mate while appearing to shout, ‘Don’t do that’, several times, clearly suggesting he felt the challenge had been cynical.
Referee Chris Kavanagh appeared to miss the trip and instead showed the incensed Chelsea midfielder a yellow card for his reaction.
Rogers was taken off shortly afterwards as Xabi Alonso moved to ensure the midfielder did not risk picking up a red card.
Rice went over to his England team-mate after the final whistle had blown to shake his hand, while Thomas Tuchel will be hoping that his two players can settle their differences ahead of the Three Lions’ Nations League opener against Spain and Czechia at the end of the month.
Arsenal’s Rice tripped Rogers just outside the penalty area during a Chelsea attack late on in the two sides’ meeting at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon
Rogers reacted furiously, climbing off the turf and shoving his England team-mate
Rogers had given Chelsea the lead in the second minute with a superb, instinctive goal. The Englishman celebrated in front of the Arsenal fans with a Thierry Henry-inspired celebration, with his hand on the corner flag.
Chelsea’s dominance was short-lived however. Kai Havertz pulled one back for Arsenal in the 25th minute before Martin Odegaard found the winner in the 50th minute.
The victory ensured Arsenal retain their perfect start to the season, following wins over Coventry City and Aston Villa. The reigning Premier League champions are joined by Manchester City at the top of the table as the only two sides to collect all nine available points from the opening three games.
Meanwhile this was Xabi Alonso’s first defeat since taking the reins in west London.
Alonso said: ‘The assessment and the feeling (is that) it hurts. It hurts to lose. It hurts to suffer our first defeat. It has been a very intense game, a great fight between two sides who have given everything.
‘They have played with the top level of concentration, of intensity. We have tried, we score early, after that Arsenal push us hard and we were struggling a little bit to get control of the ball.
‘After the equaliser, it has been quite balanced. We had a couple of chances. It’s about details. Once you concede, you need to know it’s just one goal. Disappointed that we couldn’t take anything from here.’
