• Carling Cup

Nasri and Frimpong in tunnel bust-up

Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Frimpong clashed on and off the pitch © Getty Images

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Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri was involved in a tunnel dispute with Arsenal's Emmanuel Frimpong at the conclusion of City's Carling Cup quarter-final victory on Tuesday.

Nasri, the former Gunners midfielder, was making a return to Emirates Stadium for the first time since leaving the club in the summer transfer window. The Frenchman was given a hostile reception from the crowd during the game - which was won by Sergio Aguero's solitary strike - while former team-mate Frimpong also tried to make him uncomfortable during the 90 minutes.

Frimpong - who made clear his unhappiness with Nasri's exit for City in August on Twitter - hassled and harried his opponent throughout the game, with words being exchanged at various points. And matters escalated after the final whistle, with the two players seen in a heated exchange as they headed down the tunnel.

However, reports that Nasri subsequently aimed a punch at the Ghanaian were immediately denied.

"Words were exchanged - that was that," an Arsenal spokesman who saw the incident said. "There were no punches thrown, but there was a lot of noise.

"Sami was speaking in French and Mani wasn't. It was handbags, they didn't even touch."

After the game Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger suggested some disappointment with the way Nasri was received by the Arsenal fans, hoping he will get a more positive response in future meetings.

"You want players who have played for us respected," Wenger said. "It is his first time back, I think it was more 'disappointed love' than anger.

"I am sure they love him but because they love him, they responded like that - they wanted him here."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.