Alli escapes punishment for gesture

Alli scored a sublime goal for 'Spurs' to put them 2-0 up away from home against their arch-rivals, and after he was hit with a bottle thrown from the home section of the crowd, he decided to mock the fans with a gesture.  The gesture in question simply demonstrated what the scoreline was.

In the aftermath of the game; which has seen an investigation launched into the missile incident against the England international, the Football Association has released a statement on Alli's part in the angry scenes at the Emirates.

While the laws of the game dictate that a player "will be sent off for using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures", it is understood that in this particular case, Alli's actions were potentially inflammatory, but not abusive or offensive. Furthermore, there are mitigating circumstances surrounding the gesture, as it came in the direct aftermath of the player being struck in the head by a missile.

It is also understood that Arsenal will not be charged for the behaviour of the supporter who threw the object at Alli, although CCTV footage is being analysed, in order to identify and charge the individual involved. Such charges could include a banning order.