Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale said some of the shine had been taken off the Gunners’ 2-0 win at Tottenham after he was kicked in the back by a Spurs supporter after full-time.
Ramsdale made a number of crucial saves to help Arsenal move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League with their first away league win against their local rivals since 2014.
The supporter leapt onto the advertising boards at the side of the pitch to kick out at the England international after Ramsdale celebrated in front of the stand behind his goal and exchanged words with Tottenham forward Richarlison.
Man Utd triumph in thrilling derby | 01:00
“The Spurs fans gave me some throughout the game,” Ramsdale told Sky Sports.
“I was giving some back. The people I did give it to greeted it in sportsmanlike terms but one fan tried to give me a little punch on the back.
“It is a shame as it is just a game of football at the end of the day. Both sets of players tried to bring me away but thankfully nothing too drastic happened.
“It is a sour taste but I’m sure we will enjoy it when we go back into the dressing room.” Spurs defender Eric Dier, who had his own confrontation with a fan at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2020, said the incident was “unacceptable.”
Jamie Redknapp also described the fan’s act as “unacceptable” while speaking on Sky Sports.
“Ramsdale had been getting stick all game and he reacts – that’s part of football, you’re going to get stick,” Redknapp said.
“But for a fan to do that and to try and kick a player on the pitch, it’s unacceptable. I’m sure Spurs will act accordingly. He should not be allowed in football stadiums that guy. It’s out of order.”
Contentious Utd goal has City fuming! | 01:22
In a statement, the Professional Footballers’ Association said: “Violence towards players is completely unacceptable. These types of incidents are happening far too often.
“Players have a right to be safe in their place of work. When a player is attacked, we expect the laws and regulations that are in place to protect players to be properly enforced.
“As the players’ union, we treat this as a priority issue. We will continue working with the authorities to demand that players and staff are better protected in their place of work.”
