Gabriel Martinelli has apologized for pushing injured Liverpool defender Conor Bradley during Thursday’s goalless match between Arsenal and Liverpool. The incident occurred in stoppage time when Bradley fell awkwardly while chasing the ball near the touchline, immediately clutching his knee in apparent pain.
Martinelli dropped the ball on the injured full-back and shoved him from behind, attempting to clear him from the pitch to resume play. This action triggered a confrontation between both teams, resulting in yellow cards for Martinelli and Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate. Bradley required medical attention and left the stadium on crutches with a knee brace.
Television commentators Gary Neville and Roy Keane strongly criticized Martinelli’s actions. Neville described the behavior as absolutely disgraceful and called Martinelli an idiot, while Keane deemed it a disgrace and expressed surprise that Liverpool players did not retaliate more forcefully. Both analysts emphasized the seriousness of not knowing a player’s injury status before such contact.
Martinelli posted an apology on Instagram, stating he did not realize Bradley was seriously injured during the heated moment. He expressed deep regret and wished Bradley a swift recovery. Liverpool manager Arne Slot defended the Arsenal winger, suggesting widespread time-wasting in football may have influenced his reaction. Slot acknowledged that if Martinelli had known the severity of Bradley’s injury, he would not have acted that way.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described Martinelli as an incredible and lovely person with no bad intentions. Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai stated Bradley was in such severe pain that time-wasting was the last thing on his mind, emphasizing that player health should always take priority over competitive interests.
