Gary Neville didn’t mince his words, calling Gabriel Martinelli an “idiot” after the Arsenal player forcefully pushed an injured Conor Bradley off the field during the dying moments of a goalless match between Arsenal and Liverpool.

As tensions mounted in the match’s closing stages, Martinelli’s frustration boiled over when he aggressively moved his opponent, who appeared to have suffered a significant injury, away from the action.

Bradley, having just sent the ball upfield, collapsed in pain after twisting his lower left leg. Positioned near the sideline, Martinelli urged referee Anthony Taylor to have Bradley moved off the field to resume play, even having seemingly tossed the ball at him earlier.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister quickly confronted Martinelli, who received a yellow card for his actions. Ibrahima Konate was also cautioned for his involvement in the altercation, while Declan Rice stepped in to separate the players.

The incident cast a shadow over the otherwise competitive encounter, with Neville expressing his anger and disappointment during his commentary on Sky Sports.

A fuming Gary Neville branded Gabriel Martinelli an ‘idiot’ for shoving an injured Conor Bradley

Liverpool players steamed in after Martinelli tried to get a hurt Bradley off the field of play

‘You can’t push him off the pitch,’ an enraged Neville said. ‘You cannot do that. You idiot. That is so poor.

‘I am surprised one of the Liverpool players have not gone over and had a right pop at him. I think an apology is needed.

‘He’s thrown the ball at him as well. That is no good. I am actually fuming with Martinelli. I don’t know how the Liverpool players didn’t go over and absolutely whack him to be honest with you and take a red card. Absolutely disgraceful, that.’

Dominik Szoboszlai, meanwhile, told Sky after the game: ‘I saw Conor twitsted his knee, I don’t know what it going on with him. He didn’t want to come back on the pitch to time waste, he was just in so much pain.

‘He then tried to push him of the pitch. I get the want to win, but I think the health of a player is more important.’

Roy Keane added, seemingly referencing an infamous clash he had with Alf-Inge Haaland: ‘I didn’t like it. It happened to me once before when I was badly injured with a player stood over me.

‘It’s not good. We know football and reactions. He has thrown the ball at him, stood over him and got a little knee in the head. He is trying to force him off, and I am surprised the Liverpool players didn’t go after Martinelli a little bit more.

‘That behaviour is an absolute disgrace. He is a good boy to roll around himself. Hopefully Martinelli will have a good look at it and apologise.’

Martinelli was booked for the incident, which triggered a scuffle between Liverpool and Arsenal players

Neville (left) said one of the Liverpool players should have given him a ‘whack’, while Roy Keane (right) branded it ‘an absolutely disgrace’

Arne Slot was keen to give Martinelli the benefit of the doubt and said: ‘I’m 100 per cent sure that if he knew what the injury might be that he would never do (what he did). But it doesn’t look great if he has the injury which we fear he might have.

‘I don’t know Gabriel Martinelli but he comes across as a nice guy. I think the problem for him is that there is so much time-wasting and players pretending they are injured in the final parts of the game, that you can then sometimes be annoyed if you think a player is time-wasting.’

Arteta added: ‘Knowing Gabi, if anyone knows Gabi he is an incredibly lovely guy. Probably he didn’t recognise what happened. I hope that Conor is well, I will have a word with him.

‘I have to really praise the team, the players and the individual for what they have done (in the game). The boys deserve my credit.’

Arsenal were second best throughout the game, failing to have a shot on goal in the second period until late on in the second-half. They missed the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points.

Martinelli was a second-half substitute, replacing Leandro Trossard, but could only muster one shot from his 26 minutes.

He was one of five substitutes used by Mikel Arteta in his search for a winner, with the Spaniard also using Myles Lewis-Skelly, Gabriel Jesus, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.

Joe Gomez was the only substitute used by Arne Slot, replacing Bradley in stoppage time.

It’s unclear how long Bradley may be out for after picking up the untimely injury on Thursday

Former Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge later added on the incident: ‘It’s disappointing to be honest. There is passion and being a winner, wanting to help your team-mates, but you have to be respectful as a football player.

‘With moments in the game, especially with injuries, you need to be self-aware enough to know the guy is down, you have been there before and it is worse than disrespectful.’

Keane added: ‘Know your players. He is obviously injured. He is not the type of player to do it. Not good stuff that.’

Neville added: ‘I hope Martinelli has gone into apologise. I 100 per cent expect him to the minute he knows that lad is injured. I genuinely believe all football players are good lads. He thinks he is trying to waste time, but I think you could see that was a bad one. I hope Martinelli has gone in and said I am really sorry.’