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LONDON. — Arsenal have been left fuming by Manchester City’s attempt to lure Hector Bellerin to the Etihad. Arsenal claim City have unsettled Bellerin because of their interest in the highly-rated Spanish defender.

It is understood the Gunners were so annoyed they contacted City’s chief negotiator Txiki Begiristain to issue an angry hands-off warning to the Blues and their director of football.

Arsenal feel City’s pursuit of Bellerin has thrown a spanner into their negotiations with the right-back over a new long-term deal.

Arsenal promised the Spaniard improved terms in April as a reward for his outstanding campaign last season.

However the contract talks over the terms of a five-year deal have failed to make much progress and Arsenal feel City’s interest has complicated the negotiations.

City boss Pep Guardiola is a big admirer of Bellerin and his fellow Catalan was at Barcelona ’s famed academy when he was in charge at the Nou Camp before he left to join Arsenal in 2011.

Guardiola is keen to strengthen his options at right-back because Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta are both over 30.

Zabaleta’s future is also uncertain because he lost his starting position last season and the popular Argentinian is wanted by Inter Milan and Roma.

Bellerin (21) would be a perfect fit for Guardiola and Begiristain knows his agent Albert Botines because two of his clients are City youngsters Erik Sarmiento and Paolo Fernandes.

Arsenal are determined to tie Bellerin down to the Emirates to ward off any more advances for him and they have already rebuffed a bid from Barcelona.

Barca enquired about taking Bellerin back to the Nou Camp at the end of last season and their interest was flatly rejected by the Gunners.

Bellerin signed a long-term deal 12 months ago and Arsenal want to recognise the strides he made last season when he emerged as one of the best young full-backs in Europe.

This latest fall-out between City and Arsenal has added to the bad blood between the Premier League rivals.

Arsenal were unhappy with City’s signing of Samir Nasri in 2011, which turned into a transfer saga that summer.

They were also annoyed when then City boss Roberto Mancini openly talked about his desire to sign Robin van Persie before he quit the Emirates in 2012 to join Manchester United. — The Mirror.