Nottingham Forest fullback Armand Traore has recalled the time he took a knuckleduster to a North London derby.

Traore ended up in a police cell for 10 hours as a result of a moment of madness while at the Emirates as a teenager.

He told the Mirror: “Coming from France, I used to go to PSG versus Marseille – and the fans there would batter each other.

“I was only 17 and I had just started playing for Arsenal's first-team. I had these images in my mind. I went to the north ­London derby but I was convinced ­someone might recognise me.

“I thought if a Spurs fan did, then I needed to be ready if ­something happened. So I had a knuckle-duster in my pocket — which was just stupid. As I walked into the stadium, the police found it on me and I ended up in custody for more than 10 hours. I didn't see a ball kicked. Eventually they released me.

“Then Arsene Wenger found out about it.

“I was just stupid. Young and naive. Can you imagine if ­something actually had ­happened? It would have been ­life-changing. I was young and I have learned my lesson. It was a stupid ­mistake."