“Disgraceful!” — Gary Neville Explodes at Gabriel Martinelli After Shocking Incident in Arsenal vs Liverpool Clash
Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Roy Keane tore into the Arsenal winger after his late actions on injured Liverpool defender Conor Bradley sparked a mass brawl at the Emirates
Gary Neville did not hold back after a heated moment involving Gabriel Martinelli overshadowed the closing stages of Arsenal’s goalless draw with Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
The stalemate meant Mikel Arteta’s side missed the chance to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table, but much of the post-match discussion centred on an ugly incident that sparked a mass confrontation between players from both teams.
With the game nearing its end, Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley went down injured after making a clearance. The 22-year-old was clearly in pain and remained on the pitch while awaiting medical attention. What followed drew immediate and furious reaction from pundits and players alike.
Poor from Martinelli. Disgraceful from Neville and Skysports.pic.twitter.com/d0RZGlFiBz
— 🇳🇴 kimmoFC (@kimmoFC) January 8, 2026
Martinelli, who had come on as a second-half substitute for Leandro Trossard, appeared to lose patience with the stoppage. The Arsenal winger first dropped the ball onto the injured Bradley and then made contact with his knee. Moments later, he shoved the Liverpool defender towards the touchline while Bradley was still writhing in discomfort.
The action triggered a mass brawl as Liverpool players rushed in to defend their team-mate, with Arsenal players also becoming involved. Referee Anthony Taylor quickly intervened to calm the situation.
Neville, on co-commentary duties for Sky Sports, was visibly furious as the scenes unfolded. The former Manchester United captain described Martinelli’s behaviour as unacceptable and said the Brazilian owed Bradley an apology.
“You can’t push him off the pitch,” Neville said. “You cannot do that. That is so poor. I think an apology is needed.
“Bradley is being stretchered off. I’m fuming with Martinelli, to be honest. Disgraceful. I’m surprised a Liverpool player hasn’t gone over and whacked Martinelli there.”
Neville repeated his anger as replays showed the full sequence of events, making it clear he believed Martinelli’s actions crossed a line, particularly given the seriousness of Bradley’s injury.
Roy Keane, watching from the Sky Sports studio, was equally unimpressed. The former United midfielder labelled Martinelli a “disgrace” after the match, adding to the criticism directed at the Arsenal forward.
Anthony Taylor booked Martinelli for his role in the incident, issuing a yellow card for the shove. Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate, who became involved during the confrontation, was also shown a yellow card as tempers flared on both sides.
Bradley, meanwhile, remained down for several minutes. The Northern Ireland international had earlier impressed with an energetic display and had even come close to scoring, beating Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya with a clever lob that struck the crossbar.
His injury occurred as he cleared the ball into the stands, with the awkward motion appearing to cause damage to his knee. After treatment from Liverpool’s medical staff, it became clear he could not continue, and he was stretchered off to applause from sections of the crowd.
The incident added an ugly edge to what had otherwise been a tense but goalless contest between two title rivals. Arsenal had controlled long spells but struggled to break down Liverpool’s defence, while the visitors remained dangerous on the counter-attack.
Martinelli’s introduction was meant to inject pace and urgency into Arsenal’s attack, but instead his involvement late on will be remembered for the wrong reasons. The winger’s decision-making in that moment drew widespread condemnation and briefly threatened to boil over into something more serious.
For Liverpool, the concern now turns to Bradley’s condition, with the young defender having been one of their standout performers on the night. For Arsenal, the focus returns to the title race, though questions may be asked about discipline and composure in high-pressure moments.
While the match ended without goals, the flashpoint ensured it did not end quietly. Neville’s reaction captured the mood of many watching, as an incident involving an injured player became the defining image of the evening rather than the football itself.
