Carragher apologises for coin hurl
The irate Gunners fan hurled the coin at Liverpool's left back after Dennis Bergkamp became the second Arsenal man to be sent off for his studs up lunge at Carragher.
Instinctively the Liverpudian defender tossed the object back into the crowd, leading to him also being dismissed, but he now regrets the incident both for the unprofessionalism of the act and the fact that it hindered his team's chances of pegging back Arsenal's lead.
"I regret what happened at Highbury because I let the club, the fans, my team-mates and myself down," Carragher said. "No matter what the physical or verbal provocation, I shouldn't have reacted like that I would like to apologise for any offence caused.
"I was frustrated and did it without thinking in the heat of the moment. Anyone who has seen me play regularly will realise it was completely out of character but I'm not going to make excuses.
"I was wrong and as a professional football player I should have known better. It's a mistake I won't make again."
Liverpool boss Phil Thompson has hit out at Carragher's actions, and said that although he was hit with a coin, he should have remained professional.
"Jamie said he was hit by a coin, and other objects were being thrown, which you cannot accept," said Thompson.
"You cannot have these instances that are going on up and down the country - but, neither can Jamie do what he did. You cannot have that. Two wrongs do not make a right, and I have told him so.
"He let himself down, he let his team-mates down and he let the club down in doing that.
"He was angry and frustrated about getting hit by something, and what he did was out of character, but that still doesn't make it right.
"Jamie had responsibilities to his team-mates. Arsenal had just had two players sent off, so there is a need for calm heads. Whether or not Jamie is disciplined by the club is a private matter."
Following the incidents at Cardiff, Tottenham, Chelsea and Millwall, the behaviour of the crowd at Highbury will come into question, and Thompson is concerned at the number of incidents.
"The thing that worries me greatly is the number of incidents where objects are thrown on to the pitch.
"People see it on the television and want to do it themselves, but it has to stop and everybody has to take responsibility.
"Somebody somewhere along the line is going to get hurt badly. An eye will be lost or something will happen."
Referee Mike Riley explained that he had no choice but to dismiss Carragher saying: "It was an unfortunate and thankfully very unusual incident. Something appeared to be thrown from the crowd that I think hit Jamie.
"He responded by picking it up and throwing it back into the crowd, and that is a case of violent conduct punishable by a red card."
Arsenal meanwhile, have condemned the intitial perpetrator and said they will do all they cam to catch the hooligan.
"The club believe this is an isolated incident as our supporters are usually very well behaved," an official club statement read.
"However, we are carrying out a full investigation into the matter as this kind of behaviour is wholly unacceptable and needs to be eradicated from the game.
"When the perpetrator is positively identified, he or she will be banned from Arsenal for life.
"We would appeal to anyone who actually witnessed the incident to contact the club via the stadium manager's office on 020 7704 4000."
