Liverpool boss Arne Slot defends Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli for shoving Conor Bradley as concerning injury update issued

Bradley went down awkwardly in second-half stoppage time after playing a long ball into touch. He appeared in considerable pain, just inside the pitch as Martinelli was poised to take the throw-in.

In a bid to resume proceedings as quickly as possible, Martinelli attempted to drag Bradley off the pitch, having earlier dropped the ball on the Liverpool full-back, sparking a confrontation between players from each side.

After several minutes, Bradley was stretchered off the field and replaced by Joe Gomez.

Speaking after the match to Sky Sports, Slot said: “I fear the worst for Conor Bradley.

“I think if a player of us is on the floor, people might know by now 100 out of 100 times there’s something wrong with the player. You don’t like to see a player being moved if he might have an injury.”

Conor Bradley of Liverpool is treated for injury as Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes of Arsenal look on during the Premier League

Image credit: Getty Images

However, speaking in his post-match press conference, Slot suggested Martinelli would not have acted in such a manner had he known the severity of Bradley’s injury.

Slot added: “I am 100% sure that if he knew what the injury might be, he wouldn’t do that. But it doesn’t look great if Bradley has the injury we think he has.

“But time-wasting has come to the place where players think that it’s happening in the 94th minute, so I can understand why Martinelli thought he might be doing that.”

Asked about the severity of Bradley’s injury, Slot added: “I don’t know yet but it didn’t look great if you have to go off on a stretcher. When we see the video, we both think probably the same but we have to wait on the scans if it’s that bad. Or maybe he can play on Monday – let’s hope so.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, said he would “speak to” Martinelli over the incident.

“Knowing Gabi, if anyone knows him he’s a lovely guy, and he didn’t realise what happened and hopes that Conor is well,” Arteta said.

“Probably he didn’t recognise what happened. I will speak to him.”

The draw maintained Arsenal’s six-point lead over Manchester City and Aston Villa at the top of the Premier League table, with each of the top three taking a single point from their midweek fixtures.