How Slot’s Secret Tactics Fueled Martinelli’s Stunning FA Cup Hat-Trick Surge at Arsenal

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

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

Liverpool later confirmed Bradley will not play again this season after suffering a serious knee injury involving damage to bone and ligaments, although the injury is 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 were both critical of Martinelli’s actions, but Slot opted to defend the Arsenal forward, suggesting the wider issue of time-wasting in football may have contributed to the flashpoint.

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

“I must say I think the way Arne Slot spoke after the game was brilliant,” Arteta told TNT Sport. “Because he knows how the players feel about themselves, about the opposition and about their colleagues. I think it exemplifies someone who knows the game really well.

“He’s in the opposition to make them understand everybody how you feel about them and why you react in a certain way. There was no intention whatsoever to damage a player or to no respect that player.”

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

“That’s personality, come in and talk on the pitch,” he said. “To play for a big club, you need a big personality because it can be that, it can be an action that you miss, it can be something that costs you a game, and three days later there is a game, so you need to lift yourself up and make it count.

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

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino also spoke in support of his team-mate, highlighting Martinelli’s character away from the spotlight.

“We are really happy for him, he’s a great guy,” Merino said. “Everyone that knows him knows he’s a really kind kid. He’s always smiling, he’s always kind with everyone. We are very pleased that he’s performing this well.

“Sometimes when you’re on the pitch you don’t have all the information, and you can react in a certain way, but obviously everyone knows how good of a kid he is, and he never tries to make someone feel bad.”