Mikel Arteta’s side progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup after a 4-1 win over Portsmouth (Picture: Getty)
Mikel Arteta praised Arne Slot after the Liverpool manager attempted to take the heat off Gabriel Martinelli after the Arsenal winger’s role in Conor Bradley’s season ending injury.
Liverpool confirmed on Sunday that the Northern Ireland international would miss the remainder of the remainder of the campaign having sustained serious damage to his knee.
The full-back slipped awkwardly during the closing stages of Thursday’s Premier League clash and was writhing in agony on the touchline when Martinelli, unwisely, intervened and attempted to push him off the pitch having already dropped the ball on the defender.
A hot-headed reaction prompted a furious response from Liverpool’s players while the likes of Gary Neville sparked an online backlash after the Sky Sports pundit suggested the Brazil international was lucky to get away without receiving retribution.
Martinelli retuned to the starting line-up on Sunday as Arsenal cruised into the fourth round of the FA Cup following a 4-1 win over Portsmouth and marked the occasion with a first senior hat-trick.
The 24-year-old was booed throughout the contest by the home supporters but responded in the best way possible and helped his side bounce back from the concession of a shock early goal.
Arteta was thrilled with Martinelli’s contribution to what was a far less straightforward win than the scoreline suggested, but also took time to praise Slot who spoke eloquently in the wake of Thursday night’s flashpointand attempted to relive Arsenal’s winger of any blame for Bradley’s plight.
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Gabriel Martinelli scored his first senior hat-trick in Arsenal’s 4-1 win (Picture: Getty)
‘I must say I think the way Arne Slot spoke after the game was brilliant,’ Arteta told TNT Sport when asked how Martinelli had handled a diffciult week.
‘Because he knows how the players feel about themselves, about the opposition and about their colleagues. I think 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.’
All four of Arsenal’s goals came from set-pieces (Picture: Getty)
Colby Bishop’s early strike, meanwhile, briefly threatened to cause and upset before the Premier League leaders made their top flight class count.
Set-pieces played a key role in the comeback with three goals scored from corners and another after a quickly taken free-kick found Gabriel Jesus who put Martinelli’s second strike on a plate for him with an inch-perfect cross.
‘In the beginning they were than us and could have gone up twice but then when got the momentum,’ said Christian Norgaard, who filled in at centre-half. ‘In the second half we could have made more than four goals.
‘The start wasn’t good enough. I think we were as prepared as we could have been. In this weather and conditions it is never easy in the cup games and credit to Portsmouth.’
On Arsenal’s dead-ball prowess, he added: ‘It’s important in our games but it’s important in any team.
‘Of course we emphasise it a lot but it’s a really important part of our game and it’s an important weapon of ours. We will keep developing an using it when we need it.’
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