Arteta, Slot Defend Martinelli After Controversial Tackle

In a heated encounter where Arsenal drew with Liverpool, Gabriel Martinelli narrowly avoided a red card for a controversial incident involving an injured Conor Bradley. The forward's action, during stoppage time, drew criticism from pundits, but both managers, Mikel Arteta and Arne Slot, offered defenses. Slot posited that Martinelli may have acted due to perceived time-wasting tactics creeping into matches.

Liverpool's manager confirmed that Bradley will undergo scans for a knee injury, which he described as "not looking good." Meanwhile, Arsenal's Mikel Arteta expressed that Martinelli, whom he described as a "lovely guy," likely did not realize the severity of Bradley's situation. Arteta intends to speak with Martinelli to understand the context of the incident.

Despite the draw, which presented a missed opportunity for Arsenal to extend their lead at the top of the table, Arteta praised his team's resilience. He highlighted their strong position despite recent challenges, emphasizing the remarkable performance since their last defeat a month prior.