Gabriel Martinelli came under intense fire for his antics involving Liverpool's Conor Bradley during Arsenal's 0-0 draw with the Reds
Marc White speaks on In The Mixer
Non-league boss Marc White commented on how Mikel Arteta has dealt with Gabriel Martinelli(Image: In The Mixer)
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Non-league manager Marc White says Mikel Arteta should have fined Gabriel Martinelli for his Conor Bradley outburst. The Arsenal star was lambasted for his behaviour in the closing stages of his side's 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
Late in the Premier League stalemate, Reds defender Bradley cleared the ball out of play but injured his knee in the process. Martinelli took umbrage after the 22-year-old landed on the pitch and attempted to push him off, having also dropped the ball on him.
Bradley was stretchered off and has since undergone surgery for a season-ending knee injury. He provided an update on social media this week. Martinelli received no further punishment than the yellow card he was shown during the game.
Outspoken Dorking Wanderers owner and manager White reckons Gunners boss Arteta should have internally fined the Brazilian, insisting he would have produced a financial punishment for one of his players.
"If I were the Arsenal manager I would have fined Martinelli," White said on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet. "He should have just said he was going to fine him a certain amount of money.
"He's the manager of the team, right? You can't do that stuff. You can't do what Martinelli did. It was really bad. He represents your team and your club and so he should have said he was going to fine him. That's what he should have done."
Former Manchester City and Everton defender Joleon Lescott agreed with White over Martinelli's conduct and thinks it was unfathomable that the 24-year-old acted in such a way.
Gabriel Martinelli behind Conor Bradley as he receives treatment
Martinelli attempted to shove Bradley off the pitch(Image: Getty)
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Lescott said: "I thought it was all insane that he was even trying to do those things like chucking the ball at him. Regardless of the injury you just don't do it."
Arteta responded to the incident by claiming that if Martinelli knew about Bradley's injury, he would not have reacted as he did. The Arsenal manager said post-match: "Knowing Gabby, if anybody knows Gabby, it's an incredibly lovely guy and probably he didn't realise what happened. I will have a word with him now to understand that, but probably he didn't recognise what happened."
Bradley took to social media this week to provide an update on his injury. He revealed that he has successfully undergone surgery and is looking forward to his Liverpool comeback.
Conor Bradley leaves the pitch on a stretcher
The defender is out for the season(Image: Getty)
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"A big blow but surgery is done so the comeback starts now. It won't be for a little while but I already can't wait to get back playing for Liverpool and Northern Ireland," wrote Bradley. "Thanks for all the support."
A handful of Liverpool peers commented on the post. Andy Robertson wrote: "Comeback starts now mate." Whilst Ibrahima Konate said: "You will come back stronger my Little Brother." Liverpool themselves commented on Bradley's update and said: "We're all with you, Conor." Alexis Mac Allister also took to the post and wrote: "Stay strong brother."
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