Late in the match at Emirates on 8/1, Bradley fell after a collision near the touchline and lay on the ground in pain. As the game was paused, Martinelli unexpectedly pushed the Liverpool defender off the field, then dropped the ball onto his opponent. The incident sparked a furious reaction from Liverpool players and staff, creating a chaotic scene. Martinelli received a yellow card, and Bradley had to be stretchered off.

Gabriel Martinelli pushes an injured Conor Bradley off the field. Photo: Shutterstock

Liverpool players react furiously, rushing towards Martinelli. Photo: The Guardian

The Arsenal forward receives a yellow card from referee Anthony Taylor. Photo: Shutterstock

Speaking live on Sky Sports, former player Gary Neville expressed his frustration: "You cannot push a player off the field like that. It's terrible. I think Martinelli has to apologize. Bradley was being stretchered off, and that behavior was shameful."

After the match, Roy Keane strongly criticized the Arsenal forward. "That was unacceptable behavior," he emphasized. "Throwing the ball at an opponent, standing over him, then trying to force him off the pitch. It was truly a disgrace. I hope Martinelli reviews the situation and apologizes."

Similarly, Daniel Sturridge also believes Martinelli crossed the line. "There's passion, there's a winning spirit, but players need to respect their opponents," the former English forward said. "Injuries are never pleasant. You have to be aware enough to recognize when an opponent is genuinely in pain. That was not just disrespectful, but worse."

On Arsenal's side, coach Mikel Arteta defended his player. He believes Martinelli did not realize the severity of the injury. "Gabi is a great guy. Perhaps he didn't understand what was happening. There was no intention to hurt Bradley," the Spanish coach stated.

Coach Arne Slot avoided escalating tension and expressed concern for Bradley's condition. "I believe if Martinelli had known the extent of the injury, he wouldn't have done that," the Dutch coach expressed. "But in today's football, with so much time-wasting, players sometimes confuse real injuries with feigning."

Gabriel Martinelli dribbles past Conor Bradley. Photo: PA Wire

Following the criticism, Martinelli apologized to Bradley on social media. The Brazilian forward stated that he had proactively messaged the Liverpool defender to explain the incident. "Conor and I have messaged each other, and I have apologized to him. In the heat of the moment on the pitch, I truly didn't realize he was seriously injured," Martinelli wrote on Instagram.

The match at Emirates yesterday was tense and ended in a stalemate. With the 0-0 result, Arsenal remains at the top of the table with 49 points, six points ahead of Man City. Liverpool sits fourth with 35 points, eight points behind Aston Villa.

In round 22, Arsenal will visit Nottingham Forest, while Liverpool will host newcomers Burnley at home.

Hong Duy (via Sky Sports)