Fan arrested for throwing banana at striker as seven detained
Arsenal’s Aubameyang targeted by supporter FA set to act over trouble on and off pitch in derby
A Tottenham Hotspur fan was arrested last night after a banana skin was thrown at Arsenal striker Pierre-emerick Aubameyang during a chaotic north London derby.
Images from the Emirates showed a banana peel lying on the pitch in front of Aubameyang after the Arsenal forward moved towards the away supporters in celebration of his 10th-minute penalty, which had given Arsenal the lead.
The Football Association is expected to investigate the incident, even if it is not included in referee Mike Dean’s report.
The Metropolitan Police last night said a man was arrested for throwing a missile on to the pitch, and it is understood the missile in question was the banana skin.
A Spurs spokesman said: “Behaviour such as this is completely unacceptable, and the supporter in question will be issued with a ban.”
On a day when tempers were frayed on the pitch and in the stands, there were six other arrests, including at least two Arsenal supporters, who had lit smoke canisters in the second half when the home side came back from 2-1 down to win 4-2.
The thrilling game was also marred by a scuffle between the two sets of players following Eric Dier’s first-half equaliser for Spurs.
Dier put a finger to his lips in a shushing gesture in front of the home fans, before Arsenal substitutes clashed with him. Mauricio Pochettino, the Spurs manager, and his assistant, Jesus Perez, both ran down the touchline as tempers flared. Pochettino claimed he was trying to “calm” the situation.
“In that moment, it was to try to put calm in our play,” he said. “At 1-1, it was a massive fight there, but I did not know what was going on in that moment. And in the moment that I arrived, it was all relaxed, calm. I did not know what happened, but sometimes these situa- tions happen. My intention was always to put [instil] calm. I don’t know if it was the celebration of Dier. I don’t know what upset some people there or some players that were doing the warm-up. I really don’t know.
“I promise, at half-time, I didn’t ask and now there is no time to ask. I think the cameras are there, and we will see what is going on. In that moment, I think the team score and the energy is on our side and to keep that energy is to try to be clever. OK, celebrate and then try to go back to play.”
Asked whether Tottenham had paid the price for a busy week, having played Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday, the manager said: “Until they scored the third goal, I think the game was even. But after that, we start to pay. It was difficult for the team to show that energy that normally we show. It was tough, but that is normal. It is mental and physical, too, but it was a big, big hit.”
Of Jan Vertonghen’s late red card for a high tackle on Alexandre Lacazette, Pochettino said he had “no complaints”. “It was dangerous but a little unlucky because he touched the ball,” he added.
Dier, who was booked for his celebration, said he could not understand why he was shown a yellow card. “I had my back to it all, so I am not too sure what happened,” the England midfielder said.
“But this is football, it’s a derby. Football is all about emotion, and I don’t understand how I can get a yellow card in that situation.
“It baffles me because if you take the emotion out of football, you are going to destroy the game for everyone. The ref said he gave me the yellow card because it was because of me that the whole thing started.
“If you watch it, we are celebrating, I don’t leave the pitch at any point and some of their players who are on the bench come to us. Their players approached us. I don’t know what is wrong with it. But it does not matter. It was not because of that we lost.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal head coach Unai Emery described his first north London derby as a “special” victory. Arsenal are unbeaten in 19 games this season, and this was their first win over another of the Premier League’s so-called big six. Arsenal have now moved into fourth place, ahead of Spurs on goal difference.
“For sure, it is a very big victory for our supporters, and we gave them this victory because it is a very special match,” said Emery, who takes his players to Old Trafford to play struggling Manchester United on Wednesday night.
“For us, it is the same – it is special – but above all it is three points, like it was against Bournemouth and on Wednesday against Manchester United.
“Right now, we are happy and we are enjoying it for a short time. We are at the moment the same as Tottenham in the table and they lost today. We need also to continue creating our way and process. Today, it was a very good match for our confidence, but we don’t forget they beat Chelsea last week in a very big match.”