Mark Hughes defends Marko Arnautovic in Mathieu Debuchy clash

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes has insisted that there was no malice from Marko Arnautovic in an incident that left Arsenal's Mathieu Debuchy with a dislocated shoulder.

Debuchy was stretchered off the field in Sunday's 3-0 win over Stoke at the Emirates following a collision with Arnautovic, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger confirming the severity of the injury.

The Potters winger appeared to nudge the Frenchman in the back as he attempted to shepherd the ball out of play, but Hughes is adamant that it was an accident.

"There was no malice, I don't think," he told reporters.

"Those situations arise time and time again in games and there are no consequences. I don't think there was any intent to hurt him."

Wenger later confirmed that his right-back would be out of action for "a while".

First-half goals from Laurent Koscielny and Alexis Sanchez earned Arsenal a commanding lead at the break, before the latter made sure of the points later on.