Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure in Manchester City training ground bust-up

Abebyor (pictured) and Toure were team-mates at Arsenal (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester City have once again found themselves in the uncomfortable position of having to play down a training ground fracas.

The latest came today as Roberto Mancini's side were completing preparations for tomorrow's crucial trip to Arsenal and involved former Gunners team-mates Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure.

As so often, the flashpoint was a tackle, to which Adebayor is thought to have reacted.

Pictures of half a dozen team-mates moving in to quell the set-to were circulated on the internet, forcing City officials to insist there was no major issue and the matter had quickly been sorted.

Quite possibly, City are correct in their assertion that perception of discontent is someway short of reality.

However, the fact remains, that the club's Carrington training complex is accessible through public bridleways and therefore can be filmed every day thus making scenes like today's, which the club insist happens at all rival outfits on a regular basis, are viewed by a far greater audience than would normally be the case.

It is only a month since Mario Balotelli and Jerome Boateng had to be separated in similar fashion, while this season City also gained unwanted headlines for a prank involving Nigel de Jong.

It is unlikely to affect Mancini's team selection tomorrow night though and Adebayor was unlikely to be involved against his former club anyway as he seems set to end his unhappy spell at Eastlands during the current transfer window.

And Mancini may also claim that no matter what the pictures may indicate morale within the City camp is good, a fact emphasised by City's current position of second in the Premier League, trailing leaders Manchester United only on goal difference.