Gabriel Martinelli praised by Mikel Arteta after Conor Bradley incident
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Gabriel Martinelli responded emphatically to midweek criticism by delivering a stellar performance in Arsenal’s 4-1 FA Cup third-round victory over Portsmouth, drawing strong praise from manager Mikel Arteta.[6][2] The Brazilian forward had been heavily condemned for his conduct toward injured Liverpool defender Conor Bradley during Thursday’s goalless Premier League draw, when he threw the ball at Bradley and tried to move him off the pitch despite the seriousness of the knee injury.[1][2]
In the aftermath, Martinelli apologised directly to Bradley and expressed regret, insisting he had not realised the severity of the injury in the heat of the moment.[1][2] Liverpool later confirmed that Bradley would require knee surgery and miss the rest of the season, further intensifying scrutiny of Martinelli’s actions.[2][4]
Against Portsmouth, however, Martinelli shifted the narrative by scoring a hat-trick, showcasing his resilience and quality.[2][4][6] After an early Portsmouth goal and an own goal from Andre Dozzell that drew Arsenal level, Martinelli took centre stage, scoring either side of a missed penalty by Noni Madueke before completing his treble in the second half.[2][4]
Arteta highlighted this response as evidence of Martinelli’s strong mentality and personality, stressing that playing for a big club demands the ability to handle controversy, mistakes, and intense external criticism, then quickly refocus and perform.[2][4][6] He described Martinelli as a “lovely guy” with no intention to hurt an opponent and praised his attitude, insisting that the forward would continue to train and play at full intensity despite recent events.[1][2][4]
The match and Arteta’s comments collectively framed Martinelli’s display as a timely redemption, turning a week dominated by backlash over the Bradley incident into a showcase of character, professionalism, and on‑field impact.[2][4][6]