Gabriel Martinelli has spoken out following the incident involving Conor Bradley, delivering a late message in response to what unfolded.
Liverpool’s trip to north London produced a moment that lingered long after the final whistle and ultimately overshadowed what had been a composed 0-0 draw.
Rather than the result, the focus shifted to Conor Bradley after a late stoppage-time incident involving Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli raised immediate concern.
The Northern Ireland international went down injured near the touchline and was clearly in pain, yet was pushed towards the sideline by the Brazilian as Arsenal tried to restart play. The reaction was instant, with tempers flaring and several Liverpool players rushing to defend their teammate. Dominik Szoboszlai was among those who took particular issue with the treatment of the 22-year-old while he lay on the turf.
Martinelli issues apology after Bradley scare
Hours after the match, Martinelli addressed the flashpoint publicly on Instagram.
“Conor and I have spoken and I’ve already apologised to him,” the Arsenal forward wrote.
“I didn’t realise how serious the injury was in the heat of the moment, and I’m truly sorry for how I reacted.
Wishing Conor a speedy recovery once again.”
His message followed visible concern from Arne Slot on the touchline, with the Liverpool head coach later admitting he feared the worst when discussing Bradley’s condition after the game.
Slot explained that when one of his players goes down, “there’s something wrong 100 out of 100 times,” highlighting just how unnecessary the shove appeared in that moment.
Why the incident still resonates
Bradley has already endured several injury setbacks this season, making the timing of the clash particularly worrying as Liverpool’s schedule continues to intensify.
Szoboszlai’s swift intervention also stood out, encapsulating the togetherness and protective spirit within Slot’s squad.
While Martinelli’s apology has been acknowledged, Liverpool’s main concern remains Bradley’s fitness, with further updates expected in the coming days. Publicly, the matter may now be closed, but the unease it caused still hangs heavily on Liverpool’s side.
