Theo Walcott endeared himself further with the Arsenal faithful after gesturing the scoreline towards Tottenham Hotspur fans whilst being stretchered off the field.
The England winger was stretchered off injured late on in Arsenal's 2-0 FA Cup third round win over Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Having received abuse from the Spurs fans for much of the game, Walcott reminded the away fans of the scoreline with his fingers as he was carried past them on a stretcher.
Asked if Walcott could be in trouble with the FA, Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger said: "I don't think so.
"I have seen the pictures after the game and it does not even look aggressive, he is smiling!
"My response will be simple, they have seen the pictures on television. If they judge it offensive, what can I say? I prefer they don't ban him and he is not injured."
Members of Arsenal's medical staff revealed to Wenger that Walcott's reaction was prompted by Tottenham fans throwing coins at him.
Wenger added: "The doctors said to me that the coins had been raining over his head and they had to protect him, maybe that is why he did that.
"Yes (the coins came before the gesture), that is what I have been told. After that, what he did is not offensive. You look for every single incident, I can understand that, but it is an action that didn't offend anybody."
After the match, an Arsenal steward collected up some of the coins that had been thrown at Walcott during the incident.
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| Arsenal player Theo Walcott makes a 2-0 gesture to the Tottenham fans as he is stretchered off Photo: Getty Images |
The England winger was stretchered off injured late on in Arsenal's 2-0 FA Cup third round win over Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Having received abuse from the Spurs fans for much of the game, Walcott reminded the away fans of the scoreline with his fingers as he was carried past them on a stretcher.
Asked if Walcott could be in trouble with the FA, Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger said: "I don't think so.
"I have seen the pictures after the game and it does not even look aggressive, he is smiling!
"My response will be simple, they have seen the pictures on television. If they judge it offensive, what can I say? I prefer they don't ban him and he is not injured."
Members of Arsenal's medical staff revealed to Wenger that Walcott's reaction was prompted by Tottenham fans throwing coins at him.
Wenger added: "The doctors said to me that the coins had been raining over his head and they had to protect him, maybe that is why he did that.
"Yes (the coins came before the gesture), that is what I have been told. After that, what he did is not offensive. You look for every single incident, I can understand that, but it is an action that didn't offend anybody."
After the match, an Arsenal steward collected up some of the coins that had been thrown at Walcott during the incident.
Some of the coins thrown by Spurs fans at Theo Walcott. We'll be donating it to charity#AFCvTHFC pic.twitter.com/QzNiMYdtXr
— • TM • AFC • (@ThomasMc888) January 4, 2014Don't forget to join us on Twitter and Facebook for more updates!
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