By ISAAN KHAN

Published: 02:00, 14 January 2026 | Updated: 02:00, 14 January 2026

An Arsenal winger who trains at ‘100 miles an hour’ was never likely to be derailed by the calls for violence aimed towards him.

Gabriel Martinelli is wired differently. Three days after Gary Neville had suggested a Liverpool player should ‘whack him’, the Brazilian responded in the only way he knows how: by tormenting defenders and scoring goals.

A ruthless FA Cup third-round hat-trick struck against Portsmouth, delivered with minimal fuss. No celebration that lingered longer than necessary. Just clinical finishing, then back to work.

It did not erase the furore caused by the touchline push on Conor Bradley that had dominated headlines after Arsenal’s fractious goalless draw with Liverpool on Thursday. Bradley had overrun the ball, lost his footing and hurt his knee - something Martinelli did not register in the split second that followed as he tried to shove him off the pitch. The Brazilian apologised soon afterwards.

Sunday’s display, though, felt like a reset - a reminder of the 24-year-old’s value and a statement of...