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
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
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
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

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has operation on fractured skull following horrific clash of heads with Arsenal's David Luiz


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Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez underwent an operation on his fractured skull following a clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz during Sunday's game.

The Mexican forward needed oxygen on the pitch before being taken off on a stretcher and rushed to hospital.

Brazilian centre-back Luiz played on played on with a bandage wrapped around his head before being substituted at half-time. Wolves went on to win the match 2-1.

"Raul is comfortable following an operation last night, which he underwent in a London hospital," Wolves said in a statement on Monday.

"He has since seen his partner Daniela and is now resting. He will remain under observation for a few days while he begins his recovery.

"The club would like to thank the medical staff at Arsenal, the NHS paramedics, hospital staff and surgeons who, through their skill and early response, were of such help.

The club ask that Raul and his family are now afforded a period of space and privacy, before any further updates are provided in due course."

Bother managers expressed their shock at the incident after the match. "You start hearing 'code red'," Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo said.

"It was a bad moment. What was the reaction? Panic, panic panic. You could see the faces on the team-mates. It was a serious situation. It's awful and terrible."

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta said: "I was shocked because I saw the reaction of the players – they were asking the doctors. We were really worried ... because it was really nasty."

Jimenez, 29, scored 17 goals as Wolves finished seventh in the Premier League last season.

Former Newcastle United and England striker Alan Shearer criticised the decision to allow Luiz to play on after the incident.

"Football needs to get real and wake up," he said on BBC's Match of the Day 2. "It needs to get serious, not next month, now. This has been going on for far too long. The [concussion] protocols in football are not acceptable."

Arteta defended the decision to keep the Brazilian on saying he had shown no signs of concussion and was only withdrawn as the player was concerned about the cut.

However, there have been renewed calls for temporary substitutes to be used as they are in rugby union whilst the player is given a thorough examination.

"Too often in football we see players returning to the pitch having undergone a concussion assessment only to be withdrawn a few minutes later when it is clear that they are not fit to continue," said Luke Griggs, chief executive of brain injury charity Headway.

"That is the very reason why we urgently need temporary concussion substitutes in football. You simply cannot take a risk with head injuries."

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Arsenal v Wolves player ratings

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%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Diaa%20Jubaili%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20180%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPublisher%3A%20Deep%20Vellum%20Publishing%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport

Price, base: Dh5.1 million

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm

Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km

RESULT

Fifth ODI, at Headingley

England 351/9
Pakistan 297
England win by 54 runs (win series 4-0)

RESULTS

5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: M'A Yaromoon, Jesus Rosales (jockey), Khalifa Al Neydai (trainer)

5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: No Riesgo Al Maury, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Mahmouda, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi

7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AS Jezan, George Buckell, Ahmed Al Mehairbi

7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Dolman, Antonio Fresu, Bhupath Seemar

UAE v United States, T20 International Series

Both matches at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free.

1st match: Friday, 2pm

2nd match: Saturday, 2pm

UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Rameez Shahzad, Amjad Gul, CP Rizwan, Mohammed Boota, Abdul Shakoor, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat

USA squad: Saurabh Netravalkar (captain), Jaskaran Malhotra, Elmore Hutchinson, Aaron Jones, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Jannisar Khan, Xavier Marshall, Monank Patel, Timil Patel, Roy Silva, Jessy Singh, Steven Taylor, Hayden Walsh