Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@me_k1ara - Twitter/@j_castelobranco
Topics: Richarlison, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Premier League, Gabriel Martinelli
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Richarlison, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Premier League, Gabriel Martinelli
Spurs forward Richarlison refused to 'fist-bump' Brazilian teammate Gabriel Martinelli during Sunday's North London derby, but later apologised for his actions.
The 25-year-old former Everton striker, who came on a second-half substitute in yesterday's Premier League clash, was unable to turn things around as Arsenal earned all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
Goals from Hugo Lloris [OG] and Martin Odegaard sealed a deserved 2-0 win for Mikel Arteta's side, who current sit eight points clear of second place Manchester City.
Advert
It was an impressive performance from the Gunners, but some unsavoury scenes after the full-time whistle – when one fan decided to kick Aaron Ramsdale – blemished what was an entertaining game.
It was, at times, a feisty affair. And in the second-half, Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli went over to take a corner when he was rejected by fellow countryman Richarlison.
As you can see in the footage below, Martinelli reached out to his World Cup teammate for an awkward amount of time before eventually getting on with taking the corner kick.
Advert
Fans inside the Tottenham Hotspur stadium were certainly entertained by the encounter, but Arsenal had the last laugh after picking up their first away win at Spurs since 2014.
You can see the awkward moment below.
After the full-time whistle, the Tottenham forward apologised to Martinelli for his actions.
Speaking to ESPN, as translated by Twitter user Renato, Richarlison said: "I’d like to apologise to Martinelli, I told him he was diving a lot, so I didn’t shake his hand.
Advert
"Also with Magalhaes I told him they were stopping play all the time, I just said, “let’s play’”
It was a busy Sunday evening for Richarlison, who was also involved in a brief exchange with Arsenal full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu on the touchline. Footage showed the two substitutions jostling as a thrown-in was taken.
And after the full-time whistle, the Brazilian was got into a heated clash with Gunners goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale before a fan got involved.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp condemned what happened after the full-time whistle and called for the fan responsible to be banned.
Advert
"He’s been getting stick all game as he said, he reacts, you can see Richarlison gets involved as well," he said.
"This is part of football, that, a little bit of stick, but for a fan to come and do that as we see it unfold, come on and try and kick a player on the pitch is completely unacceptable.
"He’s got to get his water bottle, he’s got to get his gloves, and I’m sure that Spurs will act accordingly. He shouldn’t be allowed in the football stadium, that guy, and it’s completely out of order and unacceptable."
The PFA soon released a statement, saying: "Violence towards players is completely unacceptable. These types of incidents are happening far too often.
Advert
"Players have a right to be safe in their place of work. When a player is attacked we expect the laws and regulations that are in place to protect them and to be properly enforced.
"As the players' union we treat this as a priority issue. We will be continuing to work with the authorities to demand that players and staff are better protected in their place of work."
Thoughts on Richarlison's actions at the weekend?
Let us know in the comments.