Sickening Jimenez head clash mars Wolves win at Emirates
WOLVES striker Raul Jimenez was taken to hospital last night after a sickening clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz in the early stages of his side’s win at the Emirates.
Jimenez was given oxygen and carried off the pitch on a stretcher after the horrible collision in the penalty area, which took place five minutes into the first half.
The severity of the collision was made clear as soon as the Wolves striker went down, with players on both teams immediately calling for medical staff to enter the pitch. Arsenal players could be heard frantically urging those medics to hurry up in reaching the two players.
Play was subsequently paused for around 10 minutes while Jimenez and Luiz (right) received treatment. Arsenal medics were assisting in the care of Jimenez, who was immediately taken to hospital and was later reported to be conscious and responding to treatment.
Concerns were raised, too, over how Luiz was able to continue in the game after such a forceful clash of heads. The Brazilian’s forehead was heavily bandaged but blood could be seen seeping through those dressings as the first half continued.
Luiz was ultimately removed from the game, coming off as a half-time substitute for Rob Holding, but Arsenal were facing questions over the decision to allow the Brazilian to play on for a further 40 minutes.
The club last night insisted that all concussion protocols were followed regarding Luiz’s return to the pitch. The injury to Jimenez, who signed a new four-year contract with Wolves last month, prompted a sombre atmosphere to fall over the match in the minutes that followed.
Despite the absence of their top scorer and the harrowing nature of his departure from the game, Wolves soon settled into a rhythm.
This was their first league win at Arsenal since 1979 and it meant a third consecutive home league defeat for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Wolves took the lead shortly before the 30-minute mark after Adama Traore tore down the right wing, bursting past Kieran Tierney with his usual combination of speed and strength. Traore’s cross found midfielder Leander Dendoncker, whose header cannoned off the crossbar before landing at the feet of Pedro Neto. From close range, the Portuguese forward could not miss.
Arsenal pulled level only a few minutes later, when Gabriel Magalhaes rose highest to thump a terrific header beyond Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio, following a curling Willian cross.
Huge spaces started opening up in the home side’s midfield and it was through one of those gaps that Wolves ran through for the winning goal, shortly before the half-time break.
Neto charged into the open turf, firing at Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Once again Wolves profited from a rebound, as Daniel Podence expertly flicked the ball over the sliding Gabriel before thumping it into the net. (© Daily Telegraph, London)