Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli has publicly apologised following a heated moment during the Premier League encounter against Liverpool that drew strong criticism from fans and pundits alike. The incident occurred in the closing stages of the match at the Emirates Stadium when Liverpool defender Conor Bradley went down injured near the touchline during stoppage time.
Believing the Liverpool youngster was attempting to waste time, Martinelli reacted in frustration. Television footage showed the 24-year-old Arsenal forward trying to push Bradley off the pitch and throwing the ball in his direction, which immediately provoked an angry response from Liverpool players. The situation escalated briefly, resulting in both Martinelli and Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konaté receiving yellow cards from the referee.
After the match, it became clear that Conor Bradley’s injury was genuine and required medical attention. Realising the seriousness of the situation, Martinelli took to social media to issue a public apology. In an Instagram story, the Brazilian international explained that he had misjudged the situation in the heat of the moment and confirmed that he had personally reached out to Bradley via text message to apologise.
Martinelli wrote that he did not initially understand Bradley was seriously injured and expressed regret for his reaction, wishing the Liverpool defender a speedy recovery. His message was seen as an attempt to defuse the backlash and show accountability following the controversial moment.
Despite the apology, the incident drew sharp criticism from former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville. Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville described Martinelli’s actions as unacceptable and labelled them “disgraceful,” stating that such behaviour had no place in the game, especially when a player was being stretchered off the field. Neville added that he expected an apology, which Martinelli later delivered.
The episode quickly became one of the major talking points following the high-profile Arsenal vs Liverpool fixture, highlighting the intense emotions that often surface in tightly contested Premier League matches. While disciplinary action was limited to a booking, the incident has reignited debate around player conduct, sportsmanship and respect during moments of injury on the pitch.
