Police question Tottenham fan after banana skin thrown at Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Sickening: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stands proud after a banana skin was thrown on to the Emirates pitch
AFP/Getty Images
Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP3 December 2018

A Tottenham supporter was on Monday being questioned by police after a banana skin was thrown on to the pitch in the aftermath of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s early penalty for Arsenal in yesterday’s north London derby.

The fan was one of seven arrests made by police around the bad-tempered contest at the Emirates Stadium, which finished 4-2 to Arsenal.

A banana skin was thrown from the away end as Gabonese forward Aubameyang celebrated his 10th-minute penalty in front of the travelling fans, evoking unwelcome memories of the racist incidents which marred English football in the 1970s and 1980s.

Tottenham said the supporter would be banned at least until the outcome of the police investigation.

Former Arsenal forward Ian Wright, speaking as a pundit on Match of the Day 2 last night, said the supporter in question had embarrassed both Spurs and the Premier League in a week when he has presented ITV’s Out Of Their Skin, a two-part documentary celebrating the pioneers of four decades of black English football and investigating what still needs to be done in the game to combat racism.

“It’s ironic really in a week where I present a show celebrating the pioneers and how far we’ve come,” Wright said. “I’ve played against Spurs and I’ve taken a lot of abuse from Spurs, but never, ever has it been racial. Now Spurs have to deal with this because some idiot has done that.

“It’s not only embarrassed Spurs but it has embarrassed the Premier League because it has gone around the world, and now Spurs have to deal with that and have that tainting all over them. It’s really unfortunate to see.”

AFP/Getty Images

There were also six arrests for public order offences — at least two of which are believed to be Arsenal supporters who lit red smoke canisters in the Clock End during the second half as the Gunners headed to a victory. All those arrested were taken to north London police stations.

A Tottenham spokesman said: “Behaviour such as this is completely unacceptable and the supporter in question will be issued with a ban.”

No one at football’s leading anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out was available for comment after being contacted by Standard Sport. The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust said they would not comment until the outcome of the police investigation.

Aubameyang’s opener was cancelled out by Eric Dier’s header before Harry Kane gave Spurs the lead from the penalty spot after Heung-Min Son went down under Rob Holding’s challenge.

Arsenal rallied in the second half, scoring through Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Lucas Torreira before Jan Vertonghen was sent off for Spurs. The clubs meet again at the Emirates Stadium in the League Cup quarter-final on December 19.

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