Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has strongly condemned the online abuse directed at forward Kai Havertz and his wife, Sophia, following Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United. The Spaniard described the situation as having “terrible consequences” and insisted that such behaviour must be “eradicated from the game.”

The criticism towards Havertz escalated after his missed penalty contributed to Arsenal’s 5-3 shootout loss against United, following a 1-1 draw. The abuse extended to his wife, who received threats towards their unborn child, prompting a swift response from the club.

During Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round exit, Havertz was criticised for missing a significant scoring opportunity during the match and having his penalty saved during the shootout.

Following the game, his wife Sophia shared disturbing screenshots of the abuse she received, which included threats towards their unborn child.

Arsenal have since reported the matter to the police and are working alongside a specialist data firm to identify those responsible. However, Arteta believes stricter actions must be taken across the sport.

“It’s incredible, honestly,” Arteta said. “We really have to do something about it, because accepting that and hiding this has terrible consequences. It’s something we have to eradicate from the game because it’s so cynical and dependent on the result of an action.”

The Arsenal manager called for greater accountability from all involved in football, urging the sport to take decisive steps against such abusive behaviour.

“There is no other industry like this,” Arteta added. “When we played Ipswich on December 27, we won 1-0 and Kai Havertz scored. The whole stadium after that is singing the ‘Waka Waka’ chant. That was 20 days ago. Where is the perspective?”

Arteta continued by emphasising the hypocrisy of fan reactions and how a player can go from being celebrated to vilified within days.

“We are all responsible. That’s a really serious matter. It affects me, it affects him, and everybody that is in the industry.”

He further called for technology companies and football authorities to do more to prevent such incidents.

“We put a lot of attention on technology and what is next in football. What is next in football is that this should be prohibited. It cannot happen. That’s it.”

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, where the abuse occurred, confirmed that the content had been removed for violating its policies. However, this case has reignited concerns around online abuse and the need for greater regulation on social media platforms.

The club’s proactive response, involving both the police and specialist data firms, shows an increased commitment to protecting players and their families.

Adding to Arsenal’s challenging week, Gabriel Jesus was stretchered off during the same FA Cup match against Manchester United. The club fears the Brazilian striker has suffered an ACL injury, a potentially season-ending setback.

Arteta addressed the injury during his press conference:

“It is not looking good at all. We need to review one more specialist before confirming anything, but we are very worried.”

This injury is particularly concerning given Arsenal’s attacking issues, with Bukayo Saka already sidelined until March and Ethan Nwaneri also out with an injury.

With injuries mounting, Arteta confirmed that Arsenal are now actively exploring options in the January transfer window.

“It would be naive not to do that because there is always an opportunity to evolve the team and improve the squad. So yes, we are looking, and let’s see what we are able to do.”

Potential signings could provide crucial depth for Arsenal’s attacking lineup, as the club continues to compete on multiple fronts despite their FA Cup exit.

This latest incident highlights the toxic nature of online abuse in football and raises critical questions about player welfare. Arteta’s passionate stance should encourage greater collaboration between clubs, football authorities, and social media platforms to create a safer environment for players and their families.

Arsenal’s swift action and public condemnation show progress, but stronger safeguards and punishments are clearly needed across the sport.