Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has flagged the “terrible consequences” of online abuse after Kai Havertz’s family was targeted on social media after Sunday’s FA Cup loss to Manchester United. 

Havertz missed chances during the game and failed to convert his penalty in the shootout as the Gunners crashed out. The Germany international and his family came in for stinging criticism.  One online user wrote to Havertz’s wife Sofia: “I’m going to come to your house and slaughter your baby. I’m not joking just wait.” Another wrote: “I hope you have a miscarriage.” Sofia shared screenshots of the threats and wrote to her 500,000-plus followers on Instagram: “For anyone to think it’s OK to write something like this is so shocking to me. I hope you are so ashamed of yourself.” Arsenal have reported the abuse to the police and are working with a specialist data firm to try to identify the culprits.