Mikel Arteta sums up Gabriel Martinelli 'personality' after response to Liverpool criticism

Gabriel Martinelli bounced back with an FA Cup hat trick against Portsmouth just days after apologizing to Liverpool defender Conor Bradley, earning praise from Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

Gabriel Martinelli celebrates with Arsenal team-mates after scoring(Image: Mike Hewitt)

Mikel Arteta lauded Gabriel Martinelli's "big personality" following his FA Cup hat-trick that secured Arsenal's place in the fourth round.

Martinelli netted his maiden hat-trick for Arsenal with his first goals in the competition, just three days after finding himself at the center of controversy involving Liverpool's Conor Bradley.

The Gunners winger publicly apologized after attempting to pull Bradley off the pitch during Arsenal's goalless draw at the Emirates, insisting he hadn't realised the Liverpool defender was seriously injured. But Martinelli made his football do the talking a few days later as he starred in the FA Cup win over Portsmouth.

Arsenal boss Arteta said: "That's why to play for a big club, you need a big personality because it can be bad, it can be an action that you miss, it can be something that costs you a game. And three days later, there is a game. So you need to lift yourself up and make it count.

"It's part of football and then it's how you take it. But he knew inside the reason why he did what he did.

"I think Arne Slot spoke brilliantly after the game, speaking of your opponent in the manner that he explained the situation and the fact that Gabi had no intention whatsoever to damage any player.

Gabriel Martinelli scored a hat-trick as Arsenal dumped Portsmouth out of the FA Cup(Image: Catherine Ivill/AMA)

"His personality is to come in and talk on the pitch, which is the best part of it. I love it. Gabi, in every context that you throw him in, he plays, he doesn't play. He performs well, not well. Today, he scored three goals.", reports the Mirror.

Remarkably, Brazilian star Martinelli managed to score two goals from corners with near post headers, continuing Arsenal's reputation as set-piece specialists. However, Arteta revealed that Martinelli had predicted he would score from a set-piece the day before the match.

"He is very good. His timing in the box is really good, especially when he's in certain spaces. And yesterday, he was talking about it."

Mikel Arteta(Image: )

Arteta mentioned that he anticipates an update on injured defender Piero Hincapie on Monday after he was forced to leave the pitch during the Liverpool match, while Kai Havertz, who is now fit again, made a return as a substitute at Portsmouth.

Arteta continued: "We had some great, positive things today. Obviously, winning the match and being in the next round. Kai, after so many months and all the effort that he's put in to be back fit and looking like he's done that.

"Probably tomorrow we'll know a little bit more on Hincapie. Where he's at, obviously, he has to come up. He's never had a good sign, but hopefully it's not too much."