Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has apologised to Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley after attempting to push him off the pitch during Thursday’s goalless Premier League draw at the Emirates Stadium.
The incident occurred deep into stoppage time when Bradley fell awkwardly near the touchline and was left in visible pain. Martinelli appeared to believe the Liverpool defender was wasting time, throwing the ball at him before trying to move him off the field. The situation sparked angry reactions from Liverpool players and a brief confrontation, after which Martinelli and Ibrahima Konaté were both booked.
Bradley, a Northern Ireland international, was eventually stretchered off the pitch in clear distress.
“Conor and I have messaged and I’ve already apologised to him. I really didn’t understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment,” Martinelli wrote on social media.
“I want to say I’m deeply sorry for reacting. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery.”
The Arsenal winger’s actions drew strong criticism from pundits. Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville described the incident as “disgraceful”.
“You cannot do that. That is so poor. I think an apology is needed,” the former Manchester United defender said.
“Bradley is being stretchered off. I’m fuming with Martinelli, to be honest. Disgraceful. I’m surprised a Liverpool player hasn’t gone over and whacked Martinelli there.”
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane echoed those sentiments.
“I didn’t like it. It’s happened to me when I was badly injured and a player stood over me, and it’s not good,” Keane said.
“I’m surprised the Liverpool players didn’t react to Martinelli more. I think that behaviour is an absolute disgrace. Not good scenes.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he feared the worst regarding Bradley’s injury, though he stopped short of heavily criticising Martinelli.
“I am 100 per cent sure that if he knew what the injury might be, he wouldn’t do that,” Slot said.
“But it doesn’t look great if Bradley has the injury we think he has. You don’t like to see a player being moved if he might have an injury.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also defended his player, insisting there was no malicious intent.
“Probably he doesn’t know, because knowing Gabi, there is zero intention,” Arteta said.
“I don’t know what happened to Conor, but hopefully it’s not bad. Obviously, there is no intention from Gabi to do anything bad to him.”
