Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Arsenal could be in trouble as fan throws missile at Man Utd players after pitchside fight
MANCHESTER UNITED captain Ashley Young retrieved an object which was thrown at Jesse Lingard during the side’s 3-1 win over Arsenal in the FA Cup on Friday night.
Two minutes after Anthony Martial bagged the Red Devils’ third and deciding goal, a scuffle unfolded on the touchline.
Battling fiercely for the ball, Marcus Rashford and Sead Kolasinac faced off, leaning their heads into each other.
Lingard, notoriously good friends with Rashford, aggressively stormed over to break up the pair, igniting a melee.
Describing the forward’s actions, Andy Townsend told BBC Radio 5 live: “Lingard is a lucky boy there, as he has got involved to try and look after his mate and got embroiled in a scenario.
“He had a conversation with Arsenal fans and lost his head a little bit.”
Several players huddled to break up the ruckus, and things eventually diffused while Lingard turned to a section of the home crowd, who were privy to the scuffle.
The BBC’s live coverage showed Lingard being restrained by a steward as he shouted towards someone in the stands.
After temperatures cooled, BBC revisited the situation and picked out an object which was thrown towards the United players.
Young retrieved the object, seemingly a coin, off the floor while speaking confrontationally towards a member of the crowd, who was off-screen.
Before feigning to toss it in their direction, Young turned to give it to the linesman.
Play-by-play commentator Guy Mowbray described the events, saying: “In the midst of all that followed, you can see something just flew on the field towards Lingard.
“And I think that’s what made him shout towards somebody in the Arsenal crowd.
“Ashley Young picked up whatever it was - I think it’s a coin.
“There was actually something in the Arsenal matchday programme tonight reminding supporters of their responsibilities after what happened against Spurs here recently.”
One Spurs fan received a lifetime ban from the club for throwing a banana skin onto the Emirates turf in December during the north London derby - a game in which another pitchside scuffle occurred.