Police have arrested a teenager on suspicion of sending online abuse to Arsenal forward Kai Havertz’s pregnant wife.
Hertfordshire Police said on Tuesday that “a 17-year-old-boy from St Albans has been arrested on suspicion of malicious communications”.
The boy, whose identity is protected by law as a minor, has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Police launched an investigation last week after Sophia Havertz, who is expecting a child with the Germany international, shared screenshots of abusive messages she had been sent after Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round defeat to Manchester United on January 12.
Havertz, 25, had his spot-kick saved by United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir as Arsenal lost 5-3 on penalties after the cup tie had finished 1-1 in normal time.
The messages, which were sent via Instagram, included threats to the couple’s unborn child.
“For anyone to think it’s okay to write something like this is so shocking to me. I hope you are so ashamed of yourself,” Sophia wrote in response.
Instagram has since removed the messages for breaching its community guidelines.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta later said there could be “terrible consequences” unless social media platforms like Instagram do more to “eradicate” incidents of online hate.
“(It’s) a really serious matter. It affects me,” he said. “It affects him and everybody that is in the industry. We can accept it and say that’s our job, but there are certain limits and the line has to be drawn.”
Havertz joined Arsenal from Chelsea in 2023 and has gone on to score 27 goals in 80 appearances for the north London club.
He has started 16 of Arsenal’s 22 Premier League games so far this season and scored his eighth goal of the campaign in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa last Saturday.
Arsenal resume their Champions League campaign against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday before a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
(Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
