Police Begin investigation after Tottenham player hit on head by bottle at Arsenal

Police are investigating an incident that saw Dele Alli struck on the head by a plastic bottle during their 2-0 victory at Arsenal on Wednesday. 

The 22-year-old England midfielder Alli was hit close to the touchline as Arsenal prepared to take a throw-in in the 73rd minute.

The bottle was thrown from the stand at Emirates Stadium during the Carabao Cup quarter-final fixture.

The Metropolitan Police reports it is working with Arsenal staff to try to identify the person responsible.

Arsenal have informed BBC Sport they are examining CCTV footage to find the person who threw the bottle, but police say no arrests have been made.

The Football Association is aware of the unpalatable incident and will throw support behind the police and clubs as they look into the matter.

Dele Alli reacted with a 2-0 gesture to fans - referencing the scoreline day of the match at the time.

"In a different country, maybe they close the stadium for a few games," said Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino.

"It's lucky it wasn't a big problem but I think people need to be careful, and we need to try and avoid this type of action. Some people behave very bad."

Earlier, Dele Alli had scored the second goal and spun Spurs to the semi-finals with a two-goal victory. 

Wednesday's awful incident follows a banana skin being thrown towards Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the Premier League game between the sides at the same venue on 2 December.

The Spurs fan responsible was fined and consequently banned from football for four years on Tuesday. 

Dion Dublin, BBC Radio 5 live pundit, who was co-commentating on the match, said: "It's sad to see. It's mindless. Why would you do that?

"It must have had water or something in it to reach Dele Alli. Why would you risk being idiots?

"Just support your club, don't do ridiculous things like that."

When Dele Alli was asked about the incident after the game, he said: "It is what it is. It made the goal a bit sweeter and the win."