RAUL JIMENEZ was rushed to hospital following a sickening clash of heads with David Luiz in the opening stages of Wolves 2-1 win at Arsenal.
Sky Sports say the Mexican striker is “conscious and responding to treatment” in a positive update. The match was forced to be stopped for 10 minutes while he received medical care.
Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
ARTETA’S REACTION
Speaking post-match, Mikel Arteta has been expressing his disappointment at tonight’s result, but maintains his delight at how his side reacted in the second half. The Arsenal boss also explained the reasons for why David Luiz stayed on until half-time.
“David [Luiz] is okay, he has a nasty cut. He was conscious. We did all the tests on him and he was completely fine, but he was really worried about [Raul] Jimenez.
“There are protocols. The doctor has to check that he hasn’t lost consciousness which he hadn’t. There are tests they have to do before putting him back on the pitch.
“[At half-time] he was uncomfortable and couldn’t really head the ball so he couldn’t continue.
“When you see the reaction of the players, you know something bad is happening.
“We’d like to send Raul Jimenez our best wishes and our love to him and his family. Hopefully it’s not as bad as it looked.
“It was a really bad result. We had our moments in the first half, but they had two shots on target and scored twice.
“We had a great reaction in the second half and the team showed the desire in how much they wanted to win the game. We created the opportunities, but the goal didn’t arrive.
“I’m disappointed because I think we merited more from the game.
“I have real concerns after losing three games in a row at home – I am responsible for that – but the willingness and desire was there.”
RAUL TAKEN TO TRAUMA CENTRE
Raul Jimenez was rushed to a major trauma centre after being knocked out cold in a sickening clash of heads with David Luiz.
The Mexican striker needed lengthy treatment on the pitch after a collision in the early stages of Wolves’ 2-1 win over Arsenal.
Jimenez received treatment from club doctors and paramedics, including receiving oxygen on the pitch, after being knocked unconscious from the collision.
He was then carried off on a stretcher before being rushed to hospital in an ambulance.
However, rather than go to the nearest A&E ward, he was taken to a major trauma centre.
ROY PUTS THE BOOT IN
Roy Keane was no stranger to kicking Arsenal as a player, and he hasn’t held back from being just as mischievous as a pundit in the Sky Sports’ studio.
“A lot of the players aren’t good enough.”
“I think they look soft and are lacking confidence. I didn’t see the desire and determination to get a result that the manager spoke about.
“I think they’ll have enough to stay up. They should be strong enough to stay in the division.”
CAPTAIN COADY
Wolves skipper Connor Coady has also been speaking about the injury suffered by Raul Jimenez in the first half.
“We were massively worried. We didn’t like it and knew it was bad straightaway.
“It was a horrible clash of heads. It happens in football, but both teams went out and played properly after that and did it right.
“I was at the front, just behind [Raul Jimenez] and jumped with him. You heard it and as he dropped, he landed on his side. I think it was important we kept him on his side to get the doctors on.
“We just hope and pray that everything is okay. It’s a massive result but the one thing that matters is Raul and David Luiz are okay.”
“He’s with the right people and that’s the most important thing.
“To come here and win is no mean feat, it’s a massive result. It’s something we can take forward.”
SANTO SPEAKS
A concerned Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking post-match about the condition of the injured Raul Jimenez, but expressed his delight at how his players reacted following the awful incident.
“[Raul Jimenez] is doing a scan now, but he’s conscious. He’s speaking and he’s aware. He’s in good hands.
“By the reaction of his teammates and the players of Arsenal, we knew it was serious. We heard them call ‘code red’ and knew it was a bad moment.
“You see the panic in the eyes of the medical staff, and we are worried.
“We were amazing after that. I’m very proud of the team. I always am, but especially today because this team showed heart. A real belief in the way they ran and worked because of what happened.
“We want to grow, we want to improve and we want to have solutions.
“We don’t want to be so predictable, but we don’t want to lose our shape and identity. We can grow, improve our game and have more players involved.”
PAIN IN THE ARSENAL
A third consecutive home defeat means that it’s Arsenal’s worst start for almost four decades.
The Gunners sacked Unai Emery a year ago today with the team in eighth place on 18 points.
Three-hundred and sixty-five days later, and Arsenal find themselves in 14th with 13 points.
Mikel Arteta has work to do.
AUBA DRAUGHT CONTINUES
Is he isolated in attack, out of form or uninterested?
The striker had just 23 touches during this evening’s game and managed only one shot on target.
DANIEL THE DIFFERENCE
Wolves’ Daniel Podence celebrates his brilliant winning goal.
FT: ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
Wolves record a first win at Arsenal since 1979 to inflict a third straight home defeat on the Gunners. First half goals from the Portuguese pair of Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence were enough to do the damage despite Gabriel’s equaliser.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES!
ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
90+4. Wolves clear their lines and that should be enough.
Holding punts a last attack forward. Saka and Willock try to work a crossing opportunity but Wolves chase the pair down.
ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
90+3. Arsenal pour forward. Nelson looks for Lacazette with a cross from the right, but fails to to pick out the striker.
The ball is headed out as far as Tierney, who sends a low shot back into the area. That too is dealt with by a packed Wolves defence.
ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
90+1. Tierney takes one for the team as he scythes down Neto with Wolves poised to counter with extra men.
The Scottish left-back is booked.
ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
90. Arsenal win a free-kick as four minutes stoppage time are signalled.
They waste this one too.
ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
89. Another Arsenal set-piece, another clearing header.
ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
88. Another Arsenal corner but a poor delivery from Nelson is dealt with easily by Moutinho.
ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
86. The pitchside microphones picks up Rob Holding unleashing a barrage of classic northern swearing after he’s penalised for fouling Traore. It earns him a yellow card from Michael Oliver.
You can take the man out of Bolton…
ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
84. Wolves counter with Traore leading the way.
The Spaniard has Arsenal terrified as they back off and off.
Eventually he plays in Neto, who subsequently puts too much on his cross to Dendoncker.
ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
82. Chance! Was that the moment for Arsenal and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?
The striker gets up above Boly to connect with Bellerin’s cross from the right, but sends it a yard wide and against the stanchion holding up the goal.
It looked in on first viewing.
ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
80. Finally, a tactical tweak from Mikel Arteta.
The Arsenal coach sends on Alexandre Lacazette for Granit Xhaka as his side prepare to take a corner.
The set-piece is aimed at the head of Holding, but Wolves manage to clear their lines.
Arsenal will come again though.
ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
78. Kilman comes on for young Fabio Silva, who has filled in admirably following his introduction for the stricken Raul Jimenez.
Wolves back three are reunited for the final 12 minutes as Coady, Boly and Kilman line up together.
ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
76. Nuno responds to the threat and has sent out Max Kilman to warm up.
The Wolves boss wants to see this game out with a back three.
ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
74. Hearts in Wolves’ mouths as Rui Patricio’s takes a heavy first touch to control a backpass.
Aubameyang steals in, but his touch to take it away from the goalkeeper pushes him too far wide to take advantage.
Moments later, Wolves give up possession again and it leads to Nelson firing over at the far post.
All of a sudden, the visitors have lost their composure and Arsenal are piling on the pressure.
ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES
72. Wolves have taken a while to get going this season, but remain really good to watch when they’re in the zone.
Nuno currently has his team in a 4-5-1 when out of possession, but they tear into a 4-3-3 as soon as they get on the ball.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
