Wolves' Raul Jimenez hopes to 'return to the pitch soon' after fractured skull
Mexico striker tweeted from his hospital bed where he is under observation following an operation after a sickening clash of heads with Arsenal's David Luiz
Players gesture for help as David Luiz of Arsenal Wolves' and Raul Jimenez lie stricken on the ground after clashing heads during Sunday's match at the Emirates Stadium. EPA
Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez says he hopes to "return to the pitch soon" despite suffering a fractured skull in a horrific clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz.
Jimenez tweeted from his hospital bed where he is under observation following an operation.
The 29-year-old Mexico international received 10 minutes of treatment on the pitch after the clash of heads in the first half of the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
He was subsequently wheeled off the pitch and taken to a local hospital.
"Thanks for your support messages," he tweeted. "I will be under observation, and I hope to return to the pitch soon."
Wolves would go on to win the match 2-1, courtesy of goals from Daniel Podence and Pedro Neto.
Neto, 20, dedicated his goal and the win - Wolves first at Arsenal in 41 years - to his stricken teammate.
"I didn't see the impact, I only heard the impact, and it was very hard seeing him on the ground like that," said the Portuguese.
"It was shocking, but I hope that he is OK and that he can recover to come back with us.
"Seeing him unconscious on the floor was bad, but we had to try to focus 100 per cent on the game.
"We wanted to end the game, we wanted to win the game for him, and we wanted to get this victory for him, so I think the whole team would like to dedicate this win for him."
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Arsenal v Wolves ratings
ARSENAL RATINGS: Bernd Leno, 6 – The Arsenal shot-stopper was the victim of some static defending in front of him, epitomised as Daniel Podence pounced on the loose ball to slot home after Leno had smartly saved from Neto with his feet. Reuters
Hector Bellerin, 6 – Another hard working display from the right-back who was buzzing around the Wolves box when Arsenal were able to get on the front foot, but produced a vital header at the other end to nick the ball away from Pedro Neto. AFP
David Luiz, 5 – He suffered a nasty clash of heads with Raul Jimenez in the opening stages that left Luiz heavily bandaged and both players needing lengthy treatment. He bravely soldiered on, but struggled against the unrelenting pace of the Wolves attack. EPA
Gabriel, 7 - The soaring Gabriel produced a monstrous header to level the scores, but he was floored by the brilliance of Podence who restored his side’s lead. In fairness, the defender bounced back again though with a series of vital interventions to keep his side in the game. Reuters
Kieran Tierney 5 - It was a difficult night’s work for the normally classy full-back who struggled to contain the energy of Adama Traore and the trickery of Podence and failed to provide his side with any real attacking support on the left flank. Reuters
Dani Ceballos, 5 - Another quiet evening for the midfielder who saw little of the ball as the opposition looked to work the ball in wide areas, which made it difficult for Arsenal to escape their own territory. Reuters
Granit Xhaka, 4 – Like Ceballos, he had minimal impact in a passive opening 45 minutes from his side and things didn’t get much better after the break which led to his withdrawal for the closing stages. Reuters
Joe Willock, 5 - I’m genuinely not sure if he touched the ball in the first-half. To his credit, he worked hard to try and get involved in the second but, despite asking the Wolves defence a couple of questions, he was unable to create anything of real significance. Reuters
Willian, 6 - What he’s lacking in years he certainly has in quality and he inch-perfect cross put the equaliser on a plate for Gabriel, but he couldn’t replicate that same pinpoint accuracy when he fired a free-kick over the bar from a promising area. AFP
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 5 – Just two goals in 10 Premier League games now for Aubameyang who started brightly as his early cut-back almost caused problems, but nodded a golden chance over late on and was ultimately isolated for most of the game. AFP
Bukayo Saka, 7 - The versatile youngster never seems to stop running. His pace on the counter caused issues again as he picked out Aubameyang whose pull-back was hacked clear, and he continued to make a nuisance of himself in the second-half. AFP
SUB: Rob Holding, 6 - Replaced David Luiz at the break who, despite his bravery, was clearly worse for wear as blood continued to flow from that nasty head wound, but the substitute could only head over from Saka’s cross and was booked for hauling down Traore. AFP
SUB: Reiss Nelson, 6 - Brought on for Willian who, despite his assist, had found openings hard to come by. He almost struck the equaliser too, but he lashed over on the volley after a neat piece of chest control. Reuters
SUB: Alexandre Lacazette, NR - The striker was hauled in desperation by Arteta for the final 12 minutes, but it was too little too late and he had little opportunity to make an impact. Reuters
WOLVES RATINGS: Rui Patricio, 6 – There was little he could do to keep out Gabriel’s thumping header, but beyond that he had little to do. Despite that, he nearly caused himself problems when a sloppy touch saw him robbed of possession by Aubameyang. Reuters
Nelson Semedo, 7 - A calm and collected night’s work from the full-back who was beaten by the pace of Saka early on but marshalled the game well for the most part, although he was thankful to see Aubameyang head wide after losing an aerial battle with the Gabon man. Reuters
Willy Boly, 6 – Another who was largely untroubled asides from Gabriel’s leveller, he joined a lengthy list of names in Michael Oliver’s book for cynically taking out the advancing Willock. AFP
Conor Coady, 7 - A commanding display from the skipper, though his heart will have been in his mouth as he slid in to try and repel a low cross but ultimately came within inches of poking the ball into his own net. AFP
Fernando Marcal, 7 – The left-back capped a composed performance with a pivotal header to see off Saka's dangerous cross as Arsenal lay siege to the Wolves penalty area late on, after he had earlier picked out Neto with a smart ball down the line. Reuters
Adama Traore, 8 - The winger’s terrifying pace is normally enough to give any defender nightmares. He wriggled away from Kieran Tierney before standing up a lovely cross that was eventually bundled home by Neto and was again instrumental in the build-up to Wolves second. Reuters
Leander Dendoncker, 6 - Right place, right time, but the wrong outcome as the midfielder’s header hammered the woodwork when it looked easier to score, while Leno was easily able to hang on to another headed effort from the midfielder. Reuters
Joao Moutinho, 6 - Having earlier floored Gabriel with an absolute piledriver, he was caught flat-footed as Saka burst away from him with Arsenal chasing an equaliser. In fairness to Moutinho, he probably covered every blade of grass in a breathless outing. Reuters
Daniel Podence, 9 - Quite simply brilliant. After a subdued start to the campaign the Wolves man is flying now and he restored his side’s lead with a calm finish into the corner after an exquisite flick over the grounded Gabriel. AFP
Pedro Neto, 8 - The tricky winger looked keen to add to his strike against Southampton from the off and he did so. He had Arsenal defender’s scrambling inside the opening 30 seconds and smashed home the opener after Dendoncker shook the bar. Reuters
Raul Jimenez, 6 – Wolves’ star striker will have been keen to add to his tally at the Emirates, but his side suffered a huge blow as a nasty clash of heads with David Luiz saw the Mexican striker’s evening come to an abrupt end when he was stretchered off inside 10 minutes. EPA
SUB: Fabio Silva, 7 - An early introduction for the 18-year-old who looked at ease against an at times quivering defence. He was unlucky not to grab an assist too as Traore fired into the side netting from the teenager’s selfless lay-off. Reuters
SUB: Ruben Neves, 6 - Replaced the superb Podence for the final 20 minutes as Wolves switched to a more robust shape to preserve their advantage, but he didn;’t see much of the ball in truth. Reuters
SUB: Max Kilman, NR - Replaced a fellow substitute when he was brought on in place of Fabio Silva for the closing stages as Nuno Espirito Santo looked to protect his side’s lead, which they did in fairness. Reuters
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Whilst Jimenez went to hospital Luiz controversially played on with blood seeping from his head bandage until he was replaced at half time.
The decision reignited the debate about concussion protocols and whether football needs to follow rugby's example and allow temporary substitutes to be used while a player is properly assessed.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended the decision, saying the Brazilian only came off because he was concerned about the cut.