Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli has publicly expressed regret after a tense moment in Thursday’s 0-0 Premier League draw with Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. Late in stoppage time, Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley suffered what looked like a serious knee injury near the touchline. Instead of immediately stopping play, Martinelli briefly dropped the ball on Bradley and then attempted to push him off the pitch so the game could continue — actions that drew immediate criticism from players and pundits alike.Bradley was eventually taken off on a stretcher and left the stadium on crutches with a brace on his knee, raising concerns about the severity of his injury. Both Martinelli and Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté were shown yellow cards for their involvement in the incident.In the hours after the match, Martinelli took to Instagram to apologise directly to Bradley, saying the reaction was “in the heat of the moment” and that he hadn’t realised how badly injured the defender was. He added that they had already exchanged messages and he wished Bradley a fast recovery.Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended his player’s character, describing Martinelli as a “lovely guy” and suggesting there was no malicious intent. Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Arne Slot offered a more tempered view, blaming the frustration on the context of the game and the frequency of stoppages in modern football, and saying Martinelli likely wouldn’t have acted the same had he known the full extent of Bradley’s injury.The episode sparked a wave of commentary, with former players and pundits weighing in on sportsmanship and player conduct. Despite the fallout, the FA has opted not to pursue further disciplinary action against Martinelli regarding the clash.
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