Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli has been branded 'an absolute disgrace' by pundits and fans following a shocking incident in the dying moments of Thursday's Premier League clash with Liverpool.
The Injury-Time Flashpoint
The match at the Emirates Stadium was heading for a tense 0-0 draw when a moment of controversy erupted deep into injury time. Liverpool's young defender Conor Bradley cleared the ball but landed awkwardly, twisting his knee and collapsing in agony at the edge of the pitch.
As Bradley lay stricken, Gabriel Martinelli, who had been chasing the clearance, was prevented from taking a quick throw-in. In a moment of heated frustration, the Brazilian dropped the ball onto the injured player before shoving him off the field of play.
This act immediately incited a mass confrontation between players from both sides, with tensions boiling over before order was restored. Bradley was eventually stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious injury, while Martinelli received a yellow card for his actions.
A Storm of Criticism and a Past Compliment
The 24-year-old's conduct drew instant and fierce condemnation. Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, analysing the game for Sky Sports, did not mince his words.
"It's not good," Keane stated. "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. Not good stuff that."
This stark criticism stands in sharp contrast to the immense praise Martinelli once received from the then-Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp. After a thrilling 5-5 Carabao Cup draw in 2019, where a teenage Martinelli scored twice, Klopp hailed him as a 'talent of the century' and an 'incredible striker'.
Apologies and Diplomatic Responses
In the aftermath, Martinelli took to social media to issue a public apology to Bradley. He explained that in the heat of the moment, he did not realise the severity of the defender's injury.
"Conor and I have messaged and I've already apologised to him," Martinelli wrote on Instagram. "I really didn't understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment. I want to say I'm deeply sorry for the reaction. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery."
Current Liverpool manager Arne Slot addressed the unsavoury incident with notable diplomacy. While not condoning Martinelli's actions, he pointed to a wider issue in the modern game.
"I don't know Gabriel Martinelli, but he comes across as a nice guy," Slot said. "I think the problem for him - and it's a problem in general in football - is that there is so much time-wasting and players pretending that they are injured in the final parts of the game."
The event has undoubtedly marred a tightly-contested fixture between two title rivals and cast a shadow over Martinelli's reputation, a player once tipped for superstardom by one of the game's most respected figures.
