HUGE BLOW ARSENAL: Brentford captain Christian Norgaard apologises for Gabriel Martinelli ‘leg breaker’

Arsenal: Brentford captain Christian Norgaard apologises for Gabriel Martinelli ‘leg breaker’

Martinelli was furious with ‘nasty’ tackle at Emirates Stadium on Saturday

Norgaard caught Martinelli from behind in Saturday’s 1-1 draw between Arsenal and Brentford

Arsenal FC

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Brentford captain Christian Norgaard has apologised to Gabriel Martinelli for a tackle that the Arsenal winger claimed could have broken his leg.

Norgaard caught Martinelli from behind with a challenge in the first half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium.

Martinelli was angered by the tackle, describing it as “nasty” and claiming after the game the challenge could have broken his leg.

Norgaard insists he would never go out to intentionally hurt another player and has said sorry to Martinelli, who accepted the apology.

Martinelli said he was fortunate to escape serious injury

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“He accepted my apology and shook my hand,” said the Brentford skipper.

“He thought the tackle was maybe harder than I did, but he was fine and [Declan] Rice as well – he said it’s part of football, you try and make these tackles to stop transitions and there was no evil intention in the challenge.

“Looking back at it, maybe it was a bit harder than I wanted it to be, but I would never set out to hurt a player intentionally.

“Sometimes you end up in situations like I did with Jordan Pickford at Everton, where I got a straight red card (which was overturned), but it was never intentional.”