Roy Keane and Ian Wright have been talking about Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli after he threw the ball at Conor Bradley and then attempted to push him off the pitch
Roy Keane and Ian Wright before the FA Cup final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City last season
Roy Keane and Ian Wright had a heated disagreement over Gabriel Martinelli(Image: ( Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images))
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Roy Keane refused to accept Ian Wright's comments about Gabriel Martinelli after he issued an apology to Conor Bradley. The Arsenal star apologised for throwing the ball at the defender and then attempting to push him off the pitch as he lay injured on the turf during the 0-0 draw between Arsenal and Liverpool.
Bradley has since undergone surgery on a season-ending knee injury. He now faces a race to recover in time for this summer’s World Cup, should his Northern Ireland qualify through the play-offs.
Keane and Gary Neville were both highly critical of Martinelli in the immediate aftermath of the game, but Arne Slot opted to defend the Brazil international, suggesting the wider issue of time-wasting in football may have played its part in the flashpoint.
But speaking on the latest episode of Stick to Football, Keane couldn’t help but have a dig at Martinelli, saying: “Why did he kick injured players as well?”
This prompted an impassioned response from Wright, who replied: “Don’t Roy. Don’t get there with Martinelli. You know what you are doing with your stupid, smiley, moody Father Christmas face.
“He didn’t see it. When it happened. Let me explain, he’s not that guy Martinelli. Arne Slot was so brilliant.
“The game is running down and Conor Bradley has kicked it out. As he has kicked it out Martinelli is just waiting to go and get it.
“He didn’t even see him twist. That is what it was. When he came back and saw him on the floor, he thinks he is wasting time. It was that simple.”
Keane then concluded: “He hit him with the ball and kneed him in the back."
Roy Keane
Roy Keane slammed Gabriel Martinelli for his actions toward Conor Bradley(Image: Sky Sports)
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The incident prompted a furious response from the Liverpool players, with Martinelli and Reds centre-back Ibrahima Konate booked by referee Anthony Taylor after a brief showdown.
And Martinelli avoided any additional punishment, as the Football Association were unable to intervene given the incident was spotted at the time and dealt with by match official Taylor and VAR John Brooks with the award of a yellow card.
On the incident, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said after the game: "It is pretty obvious for you guys to analyse it from clips. For us, it goes pretty quickly. The long ball came, Conor is challenging for it, he falls down on the pitch and obviously Martinelli pushes him off the pitch and our players reacted.
Liverpool players confront Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli following his manhandling of Conor Bradley
Liverpool players confronted Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli following his manhandling of Conor Bradley(Image: PA)
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"We all came together. And we had no clue what really happened, but it doesn’t look great and it doesn’t look great on Martinelli either. We are focusing on Conor now. He will have medical tests coming up in the next 24 hours and we will have to adapt.
"Everyone was unhappy at that moment. It wasn’t [just] a couple of players, but everyone, and rightly so because Conor was on the pitch and to be pushing him off the pitch is not really a good sight.
"Our thoughts are with Conor, first and foremost. Hopefully it is not the worst, but it doesn’t look great. Other than that, our gameplan was outstanding in my opinion."
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