Wolves ‘pray’ for Jimenez recovery after silencing Gunners

WOLVES captain Connor Coady said he is praying teammate Raul Jimenez will make a full recovery after the Mexican was taken to hospital with a head injury during his side’s 2-1 win at Arsenal yesterday.

Jimenez received treatment from medics for 10 minutes on the pitch after colliding with David Luiz before being stretchered from the field early on in the game.

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed the 29-year-old suffered a fractured skull but added that the player was “comfortable” after an operation.

An official statement from the club read: “Raul is comfortable following an operation last night, which he underwent in a London hospital.

“He is now resting and will remain under observation for a few days while he begins his recovery.”

Coady admitted he knew “straight away” that the situation was serious.

“We knew straight away,” said Coady. “It was a horrible clash of heads. This happens in football, but you don’t like to see it.”

Luiz continued with blood seeping into a white bandage wrapped around his head until half-time, when he was replaced by Rob Holding, leading to fresh calls for the introduction of concussion substitutes in football.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta defended the decision not to immediately substitute the Brazilian and said he was eventually withdrawn due to discomfort caused by a cut in the incident rather than any symptoms of concussion.

“First of all the doc has to check, that he hasn’t lost any consciousness,” said Arteta. “David was concerned just about the cut, nothing else.

“He was very uncomfortable and he could not head the ball. A centreback that cannot head the ball, cannot play.”

The rest of the Wolves team had combined for just five goals in their previous nine League games, but Pedro Neto and

Daniel Podence struck to hand the visitors a first win away to Arsenal since 1979.

The Gunners have now lost three straight home games to slip to 14th in the table.

“When you lose three games in a row at home it is a concern. I’m responsible for that,” Arteta said.

“We have to put the ball in the net, in the first half they had two shots on target and scored two goals.”

Arteta said he was not worried about his position but seems to have more questions than answers in his in-tray after another flat performance in front of empty stands at this cavernous stadium.

“It’s something that the day I decided to be a coach I knew that one day I would be sacked or leave the football club but I don’t know when that is going to happen,” he told BBC Sport.

“In this profession, I know it will happen but I never worry about it.”

At the other end of the table Wolves climb up to sixth and within four points of league leaders Tottenham and Liverpool.

“Amazing, I am very proud today,” Wolves coach Nuno Santo said on his team’s reaction after Jimenez’s injury.

“Especially today, because this team showed heart, a real belief, the way they run, they work, it was really good to see.” – AFP/Agencies