Boy arrested after Kai Havertz's wife received abusive messages following Arsenal's defeat to Man Utd on penalties

Hertfordshire Constabulary confirmed on Tuesday that a 17-year-old male from St Albans was taken into custody on suspicion of sending malicious communications. The messages came to light after Sophia shared screenshots of the offensive comments she received on Instagram. The abuse followed Arsenal’s FA Cup loss to Manchester United, a game in which Kai missed a penalty during the decisive shootout at the Emirates Stadium on January 12.

The police's involvement came after Arsenal enlisted the help of data technology firm Signify to identify the individuals behind the abusive messages. The suspect has since been released on bail as the investigation continues.

Mikel Arteta has been vocal about the need for decisive measures to combat online abuse. Speaking earlier this month, the Spaniard expressed his dismay at the toxic behaviour displayed on social media.

"It’s incredible, honestly. We really have to do something about it, because accepting that and hiding this has terrible consequences," he told reporters. "It’s something we have to eradicate from the game because it’s so cynical and dependent on the result of an action. There is no other industry like this."

Amid the ongoing investigation and fallout from the FA Cup exit, Arsenal are preparing for a critical Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night. The Gunners are determined to secure a victory, which would virtually guarantee their place in the tournament’s last 16.