Winger tried to push injured Liverpool full-back off pitch
Keane and Neville critical but Slot backs Martinelli
Mikel Arteta and Arne Slot both defended Gabriel Martinelli’s actions after the Brazil forward escaped a red card for trying to push an injured Conor Bradley off the pitch as Arsenal were held to a draw by the reigning champions, Liverpool.
The Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville labelled Martinelli an “idiot” after he decided to intervene when Bradley went down with a knee injury during stoppage time in the second half of a bad-tempered game in north London. The Northern Irishman came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half when he struck the crossbar as Liverpool made it 10 matches unbeaten in all competitions and denied Arsenal the opportunity to move eight points clear at the top.
But Martinelli caused controversy when his frustration boiled over as Arsenal were chasing a late winner, with Roy Keane also criticising the 24-year-old. Slot refused to criticise the forward but believes it was a culmination of an increase in time-wasting tactics that have been creeping into the game.
