VIDEO SHOWS: POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITES FROM ARSENAL MANAGER MIKEL ARTETA AND LIVERPOOL MANAGER ARNE SLOT. STILL PHOTOS OF GABRIEL MARTINELLI AND CONOR BRADLEY DURING MATCH (SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW) SHOWS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 8, 2026)(NICHE MEDIA – Access all) 1. LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 8, 2026) (ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS – Access all) STORY: Arsenal missed the chance to go eight points clear at the top of the Premier League in a turgid 0-0 draw with champions Liverpool at a rain-drenched Emirates Stadium on Thursday (January 8). Mikel Arteta's side had won seven successive home league games and were expected to take advantage of title rivals dropping points but were subdued against a Liverpool side who extended their unbeaten league run to nine games. Injury-hit Liverpool began slowly but grew in stature and came closest to breaking the deadlock when Conor Bradley struck the crossbar in the first half. Arsenal sent on a host of attacking substitutes after the break but too little effect as a cagey game petered out. The draw put Arsenal six points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa while Liverpool remain fourth, 14 points adrift. Arsenal failed to exert any pressure on Liverpool in a forgettable second half and did not earn a corner until deep in stoppage time but even their famed set-pieces proved harmless. There were glum faces among the Arsenal players at fulltime and in the stands, although with 17 games remaining the London club are favourites to claim a first title since 2004. One player drawing attention in the post match was Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli, after the Brazilian tried to push injured Liverpool player Conor Bradley off the pitch in stoppage time. Bradley fell awkwardly near the touchline in stoppage time and Martinelli clearly thought he was time-wasting, throwing the ball at him before manhandling him. Liverpool's players reacted angrily and after the ensuing melee, Martinelli and Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate were booked. Northern Ireland full back Bradley was eventually taken off the field on a stretcher in obvious distress. Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he "feared the worst" for Bradley, although he was measured in his criticism of Martinelli. "I am 100% sure that if he knew what the injury might be, he wouldn't do that," the Dutchman said. "But it doesn't look great if Bradley has the injury we think he has. "You don't like to see a player being moved if he might have an injury." Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said Martinelli would never have tried to move Bradley if he thought he was injured. "Probably he doesn't know because knowing Gabi, there is zero intention," the Spaniard said. "I don't know what happened to Conor, but hopefully it's not bad, but obviously, there is no intention from Gabi to do anything bad to him." (Production: David Grip)
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