Gary Neville labelled Gabriel Martinelli an ‘idiot’ after he shoved an injured Conor Bradley off the pitch in stoppage time of Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
Arsenal grew frustrated as the draw went on, and that came to a head deep into stoppage time when Martinelli opted to aggressively push his opponent, who had picked up a seemingly serious injury, off the pitch.
Bradley had just cleared a ball forward, but hit the floor in agony having twisted the lower part of his left leg. He was close to the touchline, and Martinelli made the point to referee Anthony Taylor that he should roll off the pitch so the game could continue – having already seemingly thrown the ball at his opponent.
When Bradley didn’t, Martinelli shoved the Northern Irishman to try and get him off the field, seemingly causing more pain as Liverpool players saw red.
The likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister went steaming in on the Arsenal man, who was booked, and Ibrahima Konate was also shown a yellow card for a shove on the winger, with Declan Rice separating the two.
Martinelli later apologised and revealed he had spoken with Bradley about the incident, which had left Neville ‘fuming’.
A fuming Gary Neville branded Gabriel Martinelli an ‘idiot’ for shoving an injured Conor Bradley
Liverpool players steamed in after Martinelli tried to get a hurt Bradley off the field of play
‘You can’t push him off the pitch,’ an enraged Neville said. ‘You cannot do that. You idiot. That is so poor.
‘I am surprised one of the Liverpool players have not gone over and had a right pop at him. I think an apology is needed.
‘He’s thrown the ball at him as well. That is no good. I am actually fuming with Martinelli. I don’t know how the Liverpool players didn’t go over and absolutely whack him to be honest with you and take a red card. Absolutely disgraceful, that.’
Martinelli wrote on Instagram: ‘Conor and I have messaged and I have 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 reacting. Sending Conor all the best again for a quick recovery.’
Dominik Szoboszlai told Sky after the game: ‘I saw Conor twisted his knee, I don’t know what it going on with him. He didn’t want to come back on the pitch to time waste, he was just in so much pain.
‘He then tried to push him of the pitch. I get the want to win, but I think the health of a player is more important.’
Roy Keane referenced his clash with Alf-Inge Haaland, who appeared to question the then Man United captain’s injury when he had in fact snapped his cruciate ligament after tripping up following a coming together with the Leeds player during a match in 1997.
Martinelli was booked for the incident, which triggered a scuffle between Liverpool and Arsenal players
‘I didn’t like it. It happened to me once before when I was badly injured with a player stood over me,’ Keane said on Sky.
‘It’s not good. We know football and reactions. He has thrown the ball at him, stood over him and got a little knee in the head. He is trying to force him off, and I am surprised the Liverpool players didn’t go after Martinelli a little bit more.
‘That behaviour is an absolute disgrace. He is a good boy to roll around himself. Hopefully Martinelli will have a good look at it and apologise.’
Arne Slot was keen to give Martinelli the benefit of the doubt and said: ‘I’m 100 per cent sure that if he knew what the injury might be that he would never do (what he did). But it doesn’t look great if he has the injury which we fear he might have.
‘I don’t know Gabriel Martinelli but he comes across as a nice guy. I think the problem for him is that there is so much time-wasting and players pretending they are injured in the final parts of the game, that you can then sometimes be annoyed if you think a player is time-wasting.’
Arteta added: ‘Knowing Gabi, if anyone knows Gabi he is an incredibly lovely guy. Probably he didn’t recognise what happened. I hope that Conor is well, I will have a word with him.
‘I have to really praise the team, the players and the individual for what they have done (in the game). The boys deserve my credit.’
Arsenal were second best throughout the game, failing to have a shot on goal in the second period until late on in the second-half. They missed the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points.
It’s unclear how long Bradley may be out for after picking up the untimely injury on Thursday
Martinelli was a second-half substitute, replacing Leandro Trossard, but could only muster one shot from his 26 minutes.
He was one of five substitutes used by Mikel Arteta in his search for a winner, with the Spaniard also using Myles Lewis-Skelly, Gabriel Jesus, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.
Joe Gomez was the only substitute used by Arne Slot, replacing Bradley in stoppage time.
Former Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge said on the incident: ‘It’s disappointing to be honest. There is passion and being a winner, wanting to help your team-mates, but you have to be respectful as a football player.
‘With moments in the game, especially with injuries, you need to be self-aware enough to know the guy is down, you have been there before and it is worse than disrespectful.’
Keane added: ‘Know your players. He is obviously injured. He is not the type of player to do it. Not good stuff that.’
Neville added: ‘I hope Martinelli has gone into apologise. I 100 per cent expect him to the minute he knows that lad is injured. I genuinely believe all football players are good lads. He thinks he is trying to waste time, but I think you could see that was a bad one. I hope Martinelli has gone in and said I am really sorry.’
