Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinellli has revealed he has reached out to Conor Bradley to apologise after his ‘disgraceful’ behaviour towards the injured Liverpool star.
Bradley suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury in the closing stages of Thursday’s goalless draw at the Emirates.
Martinelli appeared to aim the ball at his prone opponent before nudging his knee into Bradley’s back as he lay on the pitch in agony. The Brazil international, then attempted to aggressively push the full-back off the pitch as Liverpool’s medical staff approached him, prompting a furious reaction from his teammates.
Bradley was stretchered off the pitch and was later seen leaving the Emirates wearing a protective knee brace and using crutches.
Martinelli has faced a huge backlash for his actions, labelled a ‘disgrace’ by former Manchester United captain Roy Keane.
But in an social media post shared overnight, he said he was ‘deeply sorry’ for his reaction, insisting he was not aware how serious the injury was.
‘Conor and I have messaged I’ve already apologised to him,’ Martinelli wrote. ‘I really didn’t understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment.
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‘I want to say I am deeply sorry for reacting. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery.’
Martinelli’s behaviour left viewers stunned on Thursday night with Gary Neville, on punditry duty for Sky Sports, labelling him an ‘idiot’.
Keane found himself involved in a similar situation in 1997 when he suffered a serious knee injury in a match against Leeds. Alf-Inge Haaland stood over the United captain accusing him of play-acting, with Keane spending almost a year on the sidelines.
Keane said post-match: ‘I didn’t like it, I didn’t like it at all.
‘It happened to me before. I was injured and someone tried to get me off the pitch. It’s not good.
‘Throwing the ball on him, standing over him and pushing him off the pitch. I’m actually surprised the Liverpool players didn’t go after him more.
‘Than behaviour is a disgrace. He’s a boy that rolls over himself. Hopefully he takes a look and apologises.
‘You don’t know the injury he’s got and you’re pushing him off the pitch? It’s not good.’
Mikel Arteta meanwhile defended his player’s action, insisting he ‘did not realise’ the severity of the situation.
‘Knowing Gabby, if anybody knows Gabby, it’s an incredibly lovely guy and probably he didn’t realise what happened. I hope that Conor is well. I will have a word with him now to understand that, but probably he didn’t recognise what happened.’
