Football news - Arsenal to analyse CCTV footage in bid to catch missile thrower

Arsenal are analysing CCTV footage in a bid to identify the supporter who hit Dele Alli on the head with a plastic bottle during Tottenham’s 2-0 Carabao Cup quarter-final win at the Emirates Stadium.

Alli, who put on a masterclass to guide Spurs through to a last-four tie with Chelsea, was struck by a missile in the second half having scored a sublime goal and set up Son Heung-min’s opener.

It earned revenge for Tottenham’s 4-2 Premier League defeat to the Gunners just 17 days earlier, when a Spurs fan was arrested for throwing a banana skin at Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang.

The England international said the unsavoury incident made his goal even sweeter.

“It is what it is. It made the goal a little bit sweeter and the win,” he told Sky Sports.

Pochettino, who on Tuesday declined the chance to distance himself from rumours linking him to Manchester United, hopes the culprit can be caught but was keen not to tarnish the whole Arsenal fanbase.

“It was lucky that it wasn’t a big issue,” the Argentinian said. “For me, okay, we play a derby and we hate each other in a good way but that is in a bad way when you go to damage some people or an opponent.

“I cannot talk in general because only one stupid person made a mistake. I respect the Arsenal fans, like I respect the professionals from Arsenal and I respect our fans.

“For one you cannot talk about everyone. I hope that Arsenal take responsibility and through the camera they can identify because it wasn’t a problem but it can happen to be a big problem.”

Arsenal had their chances as Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette both hit the woodwork, but they were second best.

Mesut Ozil’s non-selection was again the main talking point after the game and boss Unai Emery was particularly evasive when asked about his future.

Ozil was not included in the matchday squad and his future at the Emirates Stadium looks bleak.

Emery said: “It was a tactical decision, I thought the players today that are with us, were for us the best for this match. We have 24 or 25 players and when they are playing in one or not playing in another it is for me the decision and today it is tactical.

“The focus is to analyse this match and for Saturday, it is a very important match. Tomorrow we are going to train with every player.

“I am thinking about the match on Saturday and not thinking about another situation. Every player is important, I decided he didn’t play and it was only a tactical decision.”