Gabriel Martinelli is not expected to face retrospective FA punishment after pushing Conor Bradley off the pitch during Arsenal's 0-0 draw with Liverpool
Tom Canton Arsenal Reporter
10:27, 09 Jan 2026
Gabriel Martinelli was booked by Anthony Taylor after pushing Conor Bradley during 0-0 draw between Arsenal and Liverpool
Gabriel Martinelli was booked by Anthony Taylor after pushing Conor Bradley during 0-0 draw between Arsenal and Liverpool(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Gabriel Martinelli is unlikely to face any additional retrospective punishment from the FA for shoving Conor Bradley during Arsenal's 0-0 stalemate with Liverpool. The Brazilian was seen pushing the full-back off the pitch after Bradley injured himself whilst clearing the ball unchallenged.
The Brazilian initially dropped the ball onto the defender before, upon seeing Bradley attempt to move back onto the pitch, shoving the player. Liverpool's players reacted angrily to the incident, forcing the Arsenal winger away before he was ultimately cautioned by Anthony Taylor.
As Taylor witnessed the incident and issued a booking, no further retrospective action from the FA is anticipated. The incident will have been documented in the referee's report as a consequence of the yellow card.
READ MORE: Dominik Szoboszlai makes feelings clear on Gabriel Martinelli after Conor Bradley incidentREAD MORE: Liverpool achieved unfortunate stat for first time in 600 Premier League games vs Arsenal
Martinelli turned to social media to issue an apology for his actions following the match. The 24 year old acknowledged that he had made contact with the Liverpool defender.
"I really didn't understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment," Martinelli wrote on Instagram. "I want to say I'm deeply sorry for reacting. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery."
Arne Slot also expressed sympathy for Martinelli after the match. The Liverpool manager explained how he understood the Arsenal player's frustration, pointing to the increasing problem of time-wasting in football as the reason for the heated reaction.
Gabriel Martinelli is shown a yellow card after moving Conor Bradley off the pitch
Gabriel Martinelli is shown a yellow card after moving Conor Bradley off the pitch(Image: (John Walton/PA Wire))
"I don't know Gabriel Martinelli, but he comes across as a nice guy," said Slot. "I think the problem for him - and it's a problem in general in football - is that there is so much time-wasting and players pretending that they are injured in the final parts of the game and during the game.
"You can sometimes be annoyed if you want to try to score a goal that you think the player is time-wasting. You cannot ask Martinelli to think so clear in the 94th minute."
Mikel Arteta indicated he would have a conversation with the player but emphasised Martinelli's character. He suggested the player probably wasn't aware of how serious the incident was.
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"Knowing Gabi, if anybody knows Gabi, he's an incredible, lovely guy, and probably he didn't realise what happened, I hope that Conor as well, I will have a word with him now to understand that, but probably he didn't recognise what happened," he said.
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Gary Neville was damning in his assessment of the incident though on commentary, saying: "You can’t push him off the pitch. You cannot do that, you idiot.
“That’s so poor. I’m surprised the Liverpool players haven’t gone over and had a right pop at him. I think an apology is needed.
“I’m actually fuming with Martinelli, honestly, I don’t know how the Liverpool players didn’t go over and absolutely whack him. Take a red card, absolutely disgraceful that.”