09 Jan 2026 01:46:06
Let’s call a spade a spade. Martinelli was very lucky not to see red. Dropping the ball onto Bradley, then using his knee to press down before shoving an injured player off the pitch is unacceptable behaviour — no matter who you support.
That kind of conduct should never be normalised or excused, especially when it’s clearly visible to fans on all sides.
Arsenal have rarely been an honest team in moments like these, and their habit of time-wasting and feigning injuries has been on show for years. This was just another example — and it deserved stronger punishment.
09 Jan 2026 05:45:21
It didn't look good from Martinelli but to be fair he probably thought it was a bit of timewasting as he doesn't have the benifit of all the angles like we do on TV. On a side note the comments about it from Slot were class, he could easily have ripped the Arsenal player to bits.
09 Jan 2026 10:52:56
Martinelli was frustrated because he thought it was time wasting and also looked like Bradley was deliberately rolling back onto the pitch.
So where was VAR? Bottled it again?
Where was VAR when the players were getting physical, handbags some will say, yet hands up aggression, a melee, players out of control. Isn’t that points deductions?
On VAR when Cas was sent off for putting his hands up to someone’s throat it was all correct, when Semenyo did it to Dalot, no problem. So when Martinelli did that where is the VAR punishment? Looks to me like VAR is selective.
09 Jan 2026 12:15:29
My pet hate is what I call 'whataboutary' redman ? one of my pet hates i should say.
I hate the poor me, and look what happened to them attitude.
Var is a bit of a joke its inconsistent because its not perfect and there is too much human involvement in it imo.
09 Jan 2026 13:03:19
Martinelli probably assumed just because of theatrics from what Arsenal players can do.
But more last night was (Liverpool being lauded by Neville) playing for a draw with their constant timewasting tippy tappy without going anywhere, passed around the defenders go wide, back round the defenders again.
Slobozai constantly throwing himself to the floor and the usual culprit Maccallister who goes down holding a part of the body whether tackled or putting in a nasty challenge himself but still goes down as if tackled.
09 Jan 2026 13:05:45
Ken mentions 'whataboutary' then uses Boris responsable for Brexit football analogies and every brexiteer is stupid.
09 Jan 2026 13:09:09
The problem is Ken, VAR is having a huge impact on the outcome of games and/or future games (players being suspended or not suspended for example) and it's inconsistency brings into question the integrity of football by making outcomes feel arbitrary.
I agree about 'whataboutery' generally in life but within Football, VAR should be in place to remove all of this but sadly all it seems to have done IMO is intensified it.
09 Jan 2026 13:54:59
If what Martinelli did was so bad why didn’t VAR give a straight red?
09 Jan 2026 18:01:59
I thought it was fine. Too many players roll around and waste time. Yes, this time there was an injury, but you reap what you sow. Slot had it right.
09 Jan 2026 22:23:51
I admire slot for his comments. Total de-escalation ?.