Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has issued a public apology following a controversial late incident involving Liverpool's injured defender Conor Bradley during Thursday night's Premier League clash.
The Injury-Time Flashpoint
The dramatic moment occurred deep into stoppage time of the 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium. Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley went down clutching his knee after an awkward landing while clearing the ball near the touchline. As Bradley remained on the ground, Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, eager to restart play quickly, became involved in an altercation with the stricken defender.
After being prevented from taking a quick throw-in, Martinelli dropped the ball near Bradley before shoving him in the back in an attempt to get him off the pitch. The action incensed Liverpool players, leading to a melee between the two sides. Both Martinelli and Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate were shown yellow cards for their involvement. Bradley was later stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
Martinelli's Public Apology and Manager Reactions
In the aftermath of the match, Gabriel Martinelli took to social media to express his regret. On his Instagram story, the Brazilian winger wrote: "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. I want to say I'm deeply sorry for my reaction. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery."
The incident drew fierce criticism from pundits, most notably former Manchester United captain Roy Keane. During Sky Sports' coverage, Keane branded Martinelli's behaviour "an absolute disgrace." He elaborated: "Throwing the ball at him, standing over him and getting a little knee on him. He tries to force him off. That behaviour is an absolute disgrace."
However, both managers offered a more sympathetic view of Martinelli's actions. Liverpool boss Arne Slot defended the Arsenal player, suggesting the forward may have believed Bradley was time-wasting. "I think the problem for him is that there is so much time-wasting and players pretending that they are injured... I can understand that Martinelli might have thought that this is time-wasting as well," Slot said in his post-match press conference.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also insisted there was no malicious intent from his player, stating: "Obviously there is no intention from Gabi to do anything bad to him."
Fallout and Looking Ahead
The primary concern now is the extent of Conor Bradley's injury, with fears it could be significant. The incident has reignited the ongoing debate about gamesmanship, time-wasting, and player conduct in the high-pressure final moments of Premier League matches.
While Martinelli's swift apology has been noted, the controversy underscores the intense emotions and fine margins that define top-flight football. The 0-0 draw leaves both teams reflecting on missed opportunities in the title race, but the post-match discussion has been dominated by this injury-time controversy.
