Gabriel Martinelli criticizes Norgaard's dangerous tackle despite yellow card

In London, Arsenal faced Brentford in a Premier League match on April 11, 2025. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving Arsenal frustrated as they felt they dropped valuable points in their title chase. Their main concern, however, revolved around an incident involving Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard and Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli, which has drawn significant attention from both players and fans. During the match, Norgaard executed a scissor tackle on Martinelli in the first half, resulting in a yellow card for the Brentford captain, which sparked outrage from Arsenal's players and managerial staff. Gabriel Martinelli expressed his concerns post-match, stating that the tackle was “nasty” and that it nearly resulted in a serious injury. He emphasized that if his foot had been on the ground at the moment of the challenge, he could have suffered a broken leg. Despite the dangerous nature of the tackle, VAR did not recommend a red card after reviewing the situation, which infuriated Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, and led to a heated discussion on the touchline. Arteta commented on Norgaard's challenge, indicating that it was serious enough to warrant a harsher punishment than a mere yellow card. Martinelli's impression of the tackle corroborated Arteta’s frustration, as he felt the refereeing decisions were inadequate in addressing the risk posed to players on the field. As Arsenal continues to pursue their goals in both the Premier League and the Champions League, this incident adds to the mounting tension surrounding match officiating standards and player safety. The club is particularly cautious about injuries, especially with a crucial Champions League quarter-final match against Real Madrid approaching, where they currently lead 3-0 from the previous leg. In light of Martinelli's concerns and the potential impact of such tackles, maintaining player safety remains a pressing issue in professional football. Furthermore, Arsenal's injury worries increased when it was reported that midfielder Jorginho experienced rib pain towards the end of the game, complicating their preparations for the upcoming match against Real Madrid. Although it was stated that Jorginho may not have started, his absence could still impact the squad's depth and overall strategy as they look to navigate crucial fixtures in both domestic and European competitions.