Arteta hails Slot for Martinelli response after Brazilian scores hat-trick in Arsenal's FA Cup win

Mikel Arteta congratulated Liverpool head coach Arne Slot for the way he spoke about Gabriel Martinelli following the Arsenal winger's involvement in the incident which led to Conor Bradley suffer a season-ending injury.

Martinelli was widely criticized after throwing the ball at Bradley and attempting to push the Liverpool full-back off the field during Thursday's goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium.

Liverpool later confirmed that Bradley would not play again this season after suffering a serious knee injury involving bone and ligament damage, although the injury was not related to his anterior cruciate ligament. The 22-year-old is due to undergo surgery in the coming days.

Former Manchester United players Gary Neville and Roy Keane both criticized Martinelli's actions, but Slot chose to defend the Arsenal striker, suggesting the wider problem of time wasting in football may have contributed to the flashpoint.

Speaking after Martinelli scored a hat-trick in Arsenal's win over Portsmouth in FA Cup In the third round, Arteta praised Slot's handling of the situation.

“I have to say I think the way Arne Slot spoke after the match was brilliant,” Arteta told TNT Sport. “Because he knows what the players think of themselves, of the opposition and of their colleagues. I think that illustrates someone who knows the game very well.

“He's in the opposition to make it clear to everyone how you feel about them and why you react a certain way. There was no intention to harm any player or disrespect that player.”

Arteta added that Martinelli's response to criticism reflected the mentality required to play at the highest level.

“That’s personality, coming in and talking on the field,” he said. “To play for a big club you need a big personality because it could be this, it could be an action that you miss, it could be something that costs you a game, and three days later there's a game, so you have to pick yourself up and make it count.

“Today he scored three goals, tomorrow he's going to train at 100 miles an hour, that's for sure. He's not going to change that, that's Gabi. It's part of football and that's how you take it. But he knew inside why he did what he did.”

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino also expressed his support for his teammate, highlighting Martinelli's character away from the spotlight.

“We’re really happy for him, he’s a great guy,” Merino said. “Everyone who knows him knows he's a really nice kid. He's always smiling, he's always nice to everyone. We're very happy that he's so well-behaved.

“Sometimes when you're on the field you don't have all the information and you can react in a certain way, but obviously everyone knows what a good kid he is, and he never tries to hurt anyone.”