Mikel Arteta responds to Arne Slot's comments about Gabriel Martinelli

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Mikel Arteta has praised Liverpool manager Arne Slot for the way he publicly addressed Gabriel Martinelli’s controversial involvement in an incident with Conor Bradley, insisting that Slot’s comments helped defuse the situation rather than inflame it.

The incident occurred during Arsenal’s FA Cup win over Portsmouth, when Martinelli tried to move an apparently injured Bradley off the pitch, sparking criticism and debate over the Brazilian’s intentions.[1] Martinelli later responded on the field with a hat-trick, turning scrutiny into a statement performance.[1]

After the game, Slot was asked for his view and made it clear he did not believe Martinelli had any intention to harm Bradley, instead framing the episode as a misunderstanding in the heat of competition.[1] Arteta highlighted this reaction as an example of managerial responsibility and respect, saying Slot had “spoken brilliantly” about an opponent and shown fairness in a potentially volatile moment.[1][2]

Arteta explained that Martinelli was fully aware of what he had done and the criticism around it, but stressed that his player’s character and lack of malice were never in doubt inside the Arsenal camp.[1] He welcomed Slot’s balanced remarks as a counterweight to some of the harsher external reactions and suggested they helped restore perspective around Martinelli.

The Arsenal manager also used the episode to underline his admiration for Martinelli’s mentality. Rather than dwelling on the controversy, the winger answered with his performance and work rate, which Arteta framed as the ideal way for a young player to respond under pressure.[1][3] In acknowledging Slot’s conduct, Arteta effectively turned the narrative into a broader lesson about respect between clubs, the importance of measured public comments, and backing young players while still accepting that their actions will be scrutinized at the top level.