Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli was highly critical of Brentford`s captain, Christian Norgaard, following a forceful tackle during their recent match. Martinelli believes the challenge was reckless and could have resulted in a severe leg injury.
Arsenal`s manager, Mikel Arteta, echoed Martinelli`s sentiments, expressing strong disapproval of the referee`s decision to only issue a yellow card for what he considered a dangerous foul in the first half.
“At that moment, if my foot had been planted, he could have broken my leg,” Martinelli stated, emphasizing the potential danger of the tackle.
He added, “Norgaard claimed there was no malicious intent, and I accept that, but the risk of serious injury was definitely there. In my view, it warranted a red card; it was a bad challenge.”
Arteta’s frustration was evident as he reacted strongly towards the fourth official while Martinelli was receiving treatment on the field.
“My reaction speaks volumes,” Arteta commented, indicating his clear disagreement with the referee`s decision.
However, Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank, held a different opinion. “It was a firm yellow card, and I believe that was the correct call,” Frank stated, defending the referee’s judgment.
Despite the tension on the pitch, reports suggest that Norgaard and Martinelli resolved the issue amicably with a handshake during halftime. Nevertheless, the controversy surrounding the incident persisted after the game.
Former referee Mark Halsey sided with Arsenal, asserting, “A tackle that jeopardizes a player`s safety with excessive force should be punished with a red card.”
Halsey elaborated, “This scissor-like tackle from behind clearly falls under the category of serious foul play.”
The match saw Arsenal take the lead in the second half with a goal from Thomas Partey.
However, Brentford responded with a goal from Yoane Wissa, securing a draw and his 15th Premier League goal of the season.
The 1-1 draw leaves Arsenal trailing Liverpool by ten points in the league standings. Arteta acknowledged the widening gap, suggesting their focus might now shift towards the Champions League quarter-finals, where they are set to face Real Madrid, holding a 3-0 advantage from the first leg.
Arteta admitted, “Our aim was to improve our chances in the Premier League title race. This result makes that significantly more challenging. While there are still six league games remaining, our immediate priority is now undoubtedly Wednesday’s Champions League match.”
Frank praised Wissa`s prolific scoring record and commended his team’s resilience in securing a point after conceding the first goal, maintaining their aspirations for European qualification.
The Brentford manager remarked, “Not many teams can boast a striker who has scored 15 goals this season. Wissa’s performance is exceptional and reflects positively on our playing style and chance creation.”
“Earning a point against a strong Arsenal team, especially after their dominant win against Real Madrid, is a very positive result for us,” Frank concluded.
“Fighting back to level the score at 1-1 demonstrates the strong character within our team.”
