Arsenal news: Unai Emery fined £8,000 by FA for kicking bottle at Brighton fan following 1-1 draw

Emery twice apologised to the fan he accidently hit

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has been handed his first FA sanction of his tenure in England after admitting a misconduct charge.

Emery kicked a bottle from the touchline into the crowd at the Amex Stadium during Arsenal’s Premier League 1-1 draw against Brighton and immediately apologised to the fan he accidently hit.

An FA statement read: “Arsenal Manager Unai Emery has been fined £8,000 after he admitted an FA improper conduct charge and accepted the standard penalty.

“It concerned his conduct during the game against Brighton on 26 December 2018.”

Emery apologised for his actions at full-time in the Boxing Day game, where Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal was cancelled out by Jurgen Locadia’s 35th-minute strike.

“I said to them apologies because I kick the bottle after a disappointing action for us in the last minutes,” he said. “It wasn’t hard, but it touched one supporter for them. I said to them I’m sorry.”

Arsenal will be relieved to see their managed escaped a touchline ban, but Emery admitted in a press conference he will “respect” any decision by the governing body.

“I hope not [to be banned] but I have to respect the decision because it is a circumstance of my action, but not another intention from me with the supporter. I say to them my apology.”

Unai Emery twice apologised to the supporter (Rex Features)

“There is not another communication. I repeat today my apologies for my individual action but I kick the bottle because it is near me, but not because it is my intention.

The Arsenal manager was charged a day after the match and accepted it before the 6pm 2 January 2019 deadline.

Emery will be on the touchline for Arsenal’s match against Fulham on New Year’s Day as his side aim to respond to being thrashed 5-12 by Liverpool at Anfield.

Mesut Ozil could be fit to return having missed the match against the league leaders with a knee injury, and defensive duo Nacho Monreal and Hector Bellerin could also be in line to make a return from injury.