LONDON (AP) – Liverpool manager Arn Slott was unhappy with the actions of Gabriel Martinelli after the Arsenal winger bundled injured defender Conor Bradley off the field in the final moments of the game. Team’s 0-0 draw in the Premier League on Thursday.
Bradley was writhing in pain near the sideline after clearing the field in stoppage time after landing awkwardly on his left ankle.
Clearly frustrated, Martinelli walked up to Bradley, dropped the ball, and drove his knee into the side, sending the defender rolling off the playing surface.
Liverpool’s players were furious and jostling and shoving broke out between members of each team. Martinelli received the reservation.
Speaking to Sky Sports, former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville criticized Martinelli’s actions, calling them “absolutely disgraceful”.
After the game, Slott said of Bradley’s injury, “I hope for the best, but I fear the worst with Conor Bradley.”
“If our player was on the floor, people might know by now that there is something wrong with him. I think you can see that,” the Dutchman added.
“We didn’t want to see one of our players being moved off the pitch if there was the possibility of a serious injury, but that remains to be seen.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended Martinelli, saying “he probably doesn’t know” that Bradley was injured.
“Because knowing Gabi, there was zero intent,” he said. “I don’t know what happened to Connor. I hope he’s not a bad guy. Obviously Gabi doesn’t have any intentions of doing anything bad to him.”
“I think the health of the players is much more important than anything else,” Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai said when asked about the incident.
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