Arsenal Football Club is facing fresh accusations of double standards following a controversial incident involving forward Gabriel Martinelli in their recent Premier League clash with Liverpool, which has prompted scrutiny of manager Mikel Arteta’s own touchline conduct.
The controversy emerged during stoppage time in a tense 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium on January 8, when Liverpool defender Conor Bradley sustained a serious knee injury. Video footage shows Martinelli first throwing the ball at the grounded Bradley before attempting to push the injured player off the pitch, actions widely condemned across the football community .
The incident has drawn fierce criticism from prominent pundits. Speaking on Sky Sports, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane described Martinelli’s behavior as an “absolute disgrace”.
Fellow pundit Gary Neville echoed the sentiment, labeling the Arsenal winger an “idiot” for his actions and expressing surprise that Liverpool players did not react more strongly. “You cannot do that. I’m surprised the Liverpool players haven’t gone over and had a right pop at him,” Neville said. Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai also commented, stating, “The health of the player comes ahead of everything else” .
In defence of his player, manager Mikel Arteta suggested there was no malicious intent. “Knowing Gabby, if anybody knows Gabby, it’s an incredibly lovely guy and probably he didn’t realise what happened,” Arteta said in his post-match comments. He expanded in a separate interview, saying, “Probably he doesn’t know because knowing Gabi, there is zero intention”.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot took a measured view, attributing the incident to frustration over perceived time-wasting, a growing issue in the modern game. “I’m 100% sure that if he knew what the injury might be, that he would never do that,” Slot stated, though he acknowledged the optics were poor.
Following the match, Martinelli issued a public apology to Bradley via Instagram, writing, “I really didn’t understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment… I want to say I’m deeply sorry for reacting” .
However, the swift defence of Martinelli has sparked a broader debate about consistency at Arsenal, as social media users have quickly resurfaced multiple instances where Arteta himself has been accused of gamesmanship on the touchline. Recent clips show the Arsenal manager allegedly stepping out of his technical area to impede opposition wingers, including Jadon Sancho during a match against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace’s Jaydee Canvot in a Carabao Cup tie.
These actions have previously led fans and commentators to question the boundaries of managerial conduct, with one fan on social media asking, “How does Arteta still get away with running onto the pitch to close down opposition players?” .
This perceived contrast, between the club’s defense of a player’s “heat of the moment” error and the manager’s repeated, calculated encroachments, lies at the heart of the double standards accusation. Critics argue that a culture of borderline conduct, whether from players or the manager, is being selectively justified.
It is noteworthy that Arteta recently highlighted his team’s improved discipline this season, claiming he was unaware they top the Premier League’s Fair Play table, a stark contrast to the five red cards received last campaign. “That is good, very good,” he remarked when informed of the record .
With Arsenal still holding a six-point lead at the top of the table, the immediate sporting fallout from the Martinelli incident may be limited to the yellow card he received . Yet, the resurfaced clips of Arteta’s touchline antics have cemented a narrative that threatens to linger.