After Gabriel Martinelli’s push on injured Liverpool star Conor Bradley earlier this Thursday, Manchester United great Gary Neville claimed that the Brazilian should have been punched. Now, Arsenal fan and famed broadcaster Piers Morgan has blasted Neville on X.
Gary Neville Scrutinized for Comments on Arsenal Ace Gabriel Martinelli
During Arsenal’s 0-0 Premier League home draw against Liverpool, Martinelli emerged as a topic of discussion for trying to shove Bradley off the pitch. He initially bounced the ball on the Reds star’s back before escalating the situation, receiving flak soon after.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville hit out at Martinelli for pushing Bradley, who was down on the pitch with a suspected knee injury, in the final moments of the match. He even claimed that the Liverpool players should have retaliated against the Brazilian attacker.
Neville commented, “You can’t push him off the pitch. You cannot do that. You idiot. That is so poor. I am surprised one of the Liverpool players have not gone over and had a right pop at him. I think an apology is needed. He’s thrown the ball at him as well. That is no good.”
“I am actually fuming with Martinelli. I don’t know how the Liverpool players didn’t go over and absolutely whack him to be honest with you and take a red card. Absolutely disgraceful that,” the eight-time Premier League-winning former right-back concluded.
After the match ended, Martinelli confirmed that he had issued an apology to Bradley.
The Arsenal man posted on his Instagram story, which read, “Conor and I have messaged and I have already apologised to him. I really didn’t understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment. I want to say I’m deeply sorry for reacting. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery.”
Following the 24-year-old Arsenal star’s public announcement, Morgan took to X and urged Neville to apologise as well for his comments in the aftermath of the recent incident.
“Now that Martinelli has apologised, it might be nice if you did too (Gary Neville). I don’t think commentators should be urging players to punch each other,” Morgan wrote on X.
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Martinelli, who replaced Leandro Trossard in the 64th minute of his side’s recent game, has started 11 of his 23 total appearances for the Gunners this season. He has scored six goals and provided just one assist for Mikel Arteta’s side so far, according to Transfermarkt.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are atop the Premier League standings with 49 points from 21 outings. They will next take on Portsmouth in a FA Cup third-round contest this Sunday, Jan. 11.
