Gabriel Martinelli: Arne Slott defends Arsenal’s winger

Liverpool Manager Arne Sloat described Gabriel Martinelli as a “nice guy” and defended the team Arsenal A winger after trying to push the injured Connor Bradley off the field.

Northern Ireland international Bradley fell awkwardly near the touchline as he chased the ball in stoppage time during Thursday’s goalless Premier League draw, falling to the ground and immediately grabbing his knee.

Martinelli then dropped the ball onto the Liverpool defender before shoving him in the back in an attempt to clear him off the playing surface to allow the game to continue.

This action sparked a brawl between the two groups of players, with Martinelli and Ibrahim Konate both receiving a yellow card for their role in it.

After receiving treatment, Bradley was taken away on a stretcher and was later seen leaving Emirates Stadium on crutches and with a knee brace.

Former Manchester United players Gary Neville and Roy Keane harshly criticized Martinelli, with Neville calling him an “idiot”, but Slott said the wider issue of time-wasting in football may have led to the flashpoint.

“I don’t know Gabriel Martinelli, but he comes across as a nice guy,” Slott 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 to be injured in the latter parts of the game and during the game, that you can sometimes get upset if you want to try to score a goal and you think the player is wasting time.

“You can’t ask Martinelli to think that clearly in the 94th minute.”

Martinelli later issued an apology on social media, saying the two players had been in contact and that he had already expressed his remorse.

“I didn’t really understand that he was seriously injured at that moment,” Martinelli posted on Instagram.

“I want to say I’m deeply sorry for the reaction. Sending Connor all my best back for a speedy recovery.”