‘No track record’ – Gabriel Martinelli defended as Conor Bradley set to miss rest of Liverpool’s season

Gabriel Martinelli’s shove on Conor Bradley was defended as an emotional reaction.

Martinelli came under-fire for trying to push the injured Liverpool off the pitch during the latter stages of the 0-0 draw with Arsenal.

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The shove sparked a melee between both sets of players, with Bradley later being stretchered off.

Liverpool have since confirmed that he will undergo surgery and is set to miss the rest of the season.

What did Liverpool say?

In a statement, the club said: “Liverpool FC can confirm Conor Bradley has sustained a significant knee injury.

“The right-back suffered the issue in the latter stages of Thursday night’s Premier League fixture away at Arsenal.

“Bradley will undergo surgery in the coming days and then begin a period of rehabilitation at the AXA Training Centre.

“No timeframe is being placed on his return to playing at this stage of the process.”

talkSPORT understands that it will rule him out for the season and he faces a race to get fit for the World Cup, should Northern Ireland qualify.

What did Martinelli say?

The Arsenal winger will not face any retrospective action for the shove on Bradley.

He quickly apologised for the incident and wrote on Instagram: “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.

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“I want to say I’m deeply sorry for reacting.

“Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery.”

Martinelli defended

There was an outcry of criticism following the incident, with claims that Martinelli should have been shown a red card.

Former Arsenal youngster Mortiz Voltz, who went on to play for Fulham and Ipswich, however insisted it was being blown out of proportion.

He told talkSPORT: “I don’t think much of it because it’s all part of an emotional game where things can boil up a little bit. But maybe I’m biased.

“He’s got no previous track record that suggests that this would have been something he had on his mind. 

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“I once went into a 50-50 challenge against Robinson at West Brom, ended up with a broken rib. It was just part of the game and it happens.

“It’s a contact sport and it happens all very, very fast.”

Former Premier League striker Tony Cascarino added: “This happens in football. Players apologise and Martinelli has said he got it wrong.

“I think you just move on from it because you’re not going to play your whole career… you get so caught up in the emotion of a game.”