Gabriel Martinelli’s push on Conor Bradley has been defended as an emotional, heat-of-the-moment reaction.
The Arsenal winger was criticised after appearing to shove the injured Liverpool defender off the pitch late in the goalless draw at the Emirates. The incident led to a brief confrontation between players from both sides, with Bradley eventually being stretchered off.
Liverpool later confirmed the right-back suffered a serious knee injury and will require surgery, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
Liverpool statement
In an official update, the club said Conor Bradley sustained a significant knee injury during the closing stages of Thursday night’s Premier League match against Arsenal. He is set to undergo surgery in the coming days before beginning rehabilitation at the AXA Training Centre. No return date has been set.
talkSPORT reports the injury will sideline Bradley for the rest of the campaign, with the defender now racing against time to be fit for the World Cup if Northern Ireland qualify.
Martinelli’s response
Martinelli will not face retrospective punishment for the incident. He quickly reached out to Bradley and issued an apology on Instagram, explaining he did not realise the severity of the injury in the moment. The Brazilian expressed deep regret and wished Bradley a speedy recovery.
Defence of Martinelli
The episode sparked widespread criticism, with some calling for Martinelli to have been sent off. However, former Arsenal academy player Moritz Volz dismissed the backlash, suggesting the situation was being exaggerated.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Volz said football is an emotional, physical sport where tempers can flare, adding that Martinelli has no history of violent conduct. He also recalled suffering a serious injury himself in a routine challenge, stressing that such incidents are part of the game.
Former Premier League striker Tony Cascarino echoed that view, saying these moments happen in football. He noted Martinelli accepted responsibility and apologised, adding that players often act on emotion and the best response is simply to move on.
