Arsenal 1-2 Wolves: Premier League – as it happened

A goal of quick-witted brilliance from Daniel Podence gave Wolves victory in a match that was overshadowed by a sickening head injury to Raul Jimenez

9.26pm GMT

Related: Raúl Jiménez head injury overshadows Wolves' win at Arsenal

9.15pm GMT

Peep peep! Wolves move up to sixth after their first win at Arsenal since 1979. They played some exhilarating attacking football in their new 4-2-3-1 formation and fully deserved their victory. Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence scored the goals in the first half; Podence’s was a skilful, quick-witted beauty.

The match was overshadowed by an awful head injury to Raul Jimenez, who was stretchered off after being treated on the field for almost 10 minutes. Thankfully he has regained consciousness and is responding to treatment in hospital.

9.12pm GMT

90+1 min Tierney is booked for a deliberate trip on the breaking Pedro Neto.

9.11pm GMT

90 min Four added minutes.

9.10pm GMT

89 min Coady is booked for a lunge at Lacazette.

9.09pm GMT

88 min Nelson wins a corner for Arsenal, though Wolves are convinced the last touch was off an Arsenal player. The assistant referee gave a goalkick but was overruled by Michael Oliver. No matter: the corner is crap and Wolves clear.

9.08pm GMT

87 min In case you missed it earlier, Raul Jimenez is conscious in hospital and responding to treatment. That’s all we know at this stage.

9.07pm GMT

87 min Holding is booked for a tactical foul on Traore.

9.06pm GMT

85 min Traore leads a promising Wolves break, running 60 yards before finding Neto on the right. His inswinging cross is a bit too far in front of Dendoncker, who can’t control it on the stretch.

9.04pm GMT

83 min Since you asked, Thomas Partey will make a huge difference to this Arsenal team. He’s that good.

9.03pm GMT

82 min Bellerin’s deflected cross is headed just wide by Aubameyang at the far post. That was another very good chance; he was barely six yards out and had the jump on Nelson Semedo.

9.02pm GMT

81 min “Hi Rob,” says Ruth Purdue. “My opinion about all of this is for football to look to rugby. Respect for the referee, calling he/she ‘Sir/Ms’ is an example but also the attitude for concussion and other injuries. I know it is not perfect and the sport is completely different, but the attitude towards the doctor and their opinion on players should be replicated. Players and managers have too much influence on health-threatening injuries. The pressure of results is simply the reason for this.

“These past couple of weeks about heading should have woken football up a bit more but I fear progress will be slowly than I would like. I hope the journalist question both the managers (who I respect and admire) and the powers that be about this. It is important.”

9.01pm GMT

81 min The corner comes to nothing.

9.01pm GMT

80 min Lots of Arsenal pressure now, more than at any stage in the match. Willock’s shot deflects behind for a corner. Before it is taken, Alexandre Lacazette replaces Granit Xhaka.

9.00pm GMT

79 min “Arsenal will be 14th if this stays the same,” says Stephen Carr. “One can only speculate as to the reaction to that if Wenger or Emery were in charge.”

Or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. They did win the FA Cup, though, and Arteta has definitely improved the defence.

8.59pm GMT

78 min Wolves make their third and final change: Max Kilman replaces the substitute Fabio Silva, which means a switch to a back three. Wolves have declared at 2-1.

8.56pm GMT

74 min This is a good spell for Arsenal. After a bit of a scramble in the Wolves area. Nelson’s lashes a chest/volley over the bar from 10 yards.

8.54pm GMT

73 min Aubameyang’s low drive is blocked by Coady inside the six-yard box.

8.51pm GMT

Head injuries. Concussion subs can't come soon enough but at least we've moved on a long way from mid-70s. Denis Smith, the ex-Stoke City hard man (and a lovely bloke, my first interviewee) describes in his autobiography a clash with one of Jimenez's predecessors Derek Dougan. pic.twitter.com/WmgUvoXHX8

8.51pm GMT

70 min Neto teases Bellerin again and smashes a cross that just clears Fabio Silva at the far post.

8.50pm GMT

70 min Wolves make their second change: Ruben Neves replaces Daniel Podence, whose delicious goal put Wolves 2-1 in front.

8.50pm GMT

69 min Bellerin is booked for pulling back Neto, who has trouble him all night.

8.49pm GMT

68 min Arsenal are struggling to get behind the Wolves defence. They look, understandably, pretty short on confidence.

8.45pm GMT

65 min A change for Arsenal: Reiss Nelson replaces Willian.

8.45pm GMT

64 min Saka’s scooped cross is headed over at the far post by Holding. He couldn’t get over the ball.

8.45pm GMT

64 min Arsenal have been poor since half-time. Aubameyang, in particular, looks nowhere near his best.

8.42pm GMT

61 min Sky Sports report that Raul Jimenez is conscious in hospital and responding to treatment.

8.41pm GMT

60 min Podence twists Holding inside out and rifles a shot that is brilliantly blocked by the covering Bellerin. Wolves have played some exhilarating stuff tonight.

8.38pm GMT

57 min Willian clips the free-kick over the bar.

8.37pm GMT

56 min Fabio Silva is booked for an ill-judged hack at Saka. Arsenal have a free-kick 22 yards from goal, to the left of centre...

8.37pm GMT

55 min “Speaking of ‘one-man midfields’, so very sad to hear about Papa Bouba Diop’s untimely passing,” says Matt Dony. “He was one of those players I always liked, but for no specific reason. He didn’t play for any teams I cared greatly about, he wasn’t likely to bother any World XI lists, but I had a tremendous soft spot for him, especially during his time at Fulham. And, ‘The Wardrobe’ is one of the great player nicknames. It’s always 2002 somewhere.”

31 May 2002, to be precise. That was really shocking news.

8.36pm GMT

54 min Traore is booked for diving in the area. He ran at Gabriel, who dangled a leg and seemed to catch Traore very slightly. It would have been a soft penalty, but I’m not sure it was a dive.

8.33pm GMT

52 min Moutinho’s fierce shot from the edge of the area hits Gabriel in the face and knocks him off his feet. There’s a break in play while he receives treatment.

8.32pm GMT

51 min Neto roars away from Holding and crosses low towards Fabio Silva at the near post. Gabriel does superbly to get across Fabio Silva and poke the ball behind for a corner.

8.31pm GMT

50 min Saka misses a good chance, failing to make proper contact with Bellerin’s inviting cross. He stretched to volley the ball towards goal, but it sliced off his shin. Although it came at a slightly awkward height, he should have done better.

8.28pm GMT

48 min “The NFL is the most greedy, corporate driven indifference to their players’ health, sports league in the world,” says Mary Waltz. “I despise them. But even their concussion protocol requires the player to go into a darkened tent for a proper concussion test in a tent that blocks out the light. it takes 10 to 29 minutes to do it right. The NFL only did it because they got caught trying to hide the truth and to avoid lawsuits. You can’t let players have a say. They will always say ‘I’m fine’.”

The players should have no say at all. I suppose the biggest question is whether you should have independent medical staff at each game, so that there is no potential conflict of interest.

8.28pm GMT

47 min Boly is booked for a cynical foul on Willock.

8.26pm GMT

46 min Peep peep! Arsenal begin the second half.

8.26pm GMT

David Luiz is going to be replaced by Rob Holding, on the advice of the Arsenal doctors. They haven’t specified what changed between the original concussion test and the half-time assessment.

8.24pm GMT

“Arteta,” muses Andrew Hurley. “How much longer? It would be one thing if it appeared Arsenal were building a style or developing youngsters. They are over-coached, the players afraid to step outside the plan, and Arsenal are now a great ‘little’ team - so, they can be well-organised defensively and beat top teams by being hyper-defensive, yet can’t do that actual thing called playing football. Arsenal have actually spent quite a bit, and are really going nowhere. If anything, 13th is generous - 13th!”

8.23pm GMT

“It’s an absolute scandal that David Luiz is still on the pitch,” says David Flynn. “There’s a real problem regarding how seriously football treats concussions. You can’t keep idolising that picture of Terry Butcher as a yardstick of manliness and accept it as normal that the entire 1966 squad is dying of dementia. There needs to be a sea change but everyone’s more interested in the definition of an armpit.”

I think the Terry Butcher picture is irrelevant, to be honest. I don’t think people have idolised that for years. The Arsenal doctors did a concussion test and were satisfied. I agree that Luiz playing on doesn’t sit right, and that the existing protocols need to be reviewed, but to suggest that experienced medical professionals aren’t taking concussion seriously would be out of order.

8.19pm GMT

There has been no additional update on Raul Jimenez. All we know is that he was taken straight to hospital around 45 minutes ago.

8.14pm GMT

“Arsenal’s midfield at the moment is neither beast nor fowl,” says Charles Antaki. “Arsenal fans would take a bit of beast, and then some fowl on top, were it available. Probably the best description at the moment is vaporous, or maybe insubstantial – anyway, something not there.”

That something is called Thomas Partey. He’s a one-man midfield.

8.13pm GMT

Wolves lead through goals from Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence, but an entertaining first half was overshadowed by a sickening clash of heads between Raul Jimenez and David Luiz. Jimenez was rushed to hospital after being treated on the field for almost 10 minutes; Luiz is still playing.

8.11pm GMT

45+9 min “I saw Steven Smith hit by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s in 2019 - he returned to the crease after about 30 minutes in the dressing room, having passed the tests,” says Gary Naylor. “He was subbed out the next day, having failed the morning protocols. I’m no expert on concussion either, but I suspect David Luiz should be resting not running.”

Yes, he was the first person I thought of when Luiz continued, precisely because of that delayed reaction.

8.10pm GMT

See ya! ⚡

Wait for touch from Daniel Podence as Wolves retake the lead...

Watch on Sky Sports PL
Follow #ARSWOL here: https://t.co/MQyoPBmHgR
Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/VyJHRFhMQt

8.09pm GMT

45+7 min Ceballos goes down holding his face after an aerial challenge with Podence, whose left arm caught him on the nose. After a bit of treatment, Ceballos is back on his feet.

8.06pm GMT

45+4 min: Traore misses an excellent chance! That was another dynamic attack from Wolves. Marcal swished a lovely pass down the left to Neto, who moved the ball infield to Fabio Silva. He eschewed the shot and instead played in Traore, who smashed the ball into the side netting.

8.05pm GMT

45+3 min Wolves have played some lovely football tonight. It helps having an extra attacker in this new 4-2-3-1 formation.

8.02pm GMT

45+1 min There will be ten added minutes because of that horrible injury to Raul Jimenez. Fabio Silva’s mistimed lob is comfortably saved by Leno. Seconds later, at the other end, Aubameyang’s shot from a tight angle is held by Rui Patricio.

8.00pm GMT

45 min David Luiz belts a free-kick over the bar from 25 yards.

7.59pm GMT

Traore beat a couple of players on the halfway line with a double dragback and then found Neto. He ran to the edge of the area and hit a deflected shot that was spilled by Leno. It rebounded to Podence, who lifted the ball brilliantly over Gabriel and rattled it into the net. That was such a skilful, quick-witted finish.

7.57pm GMT

Daniel Podence restores Wolves’ lead with a masterful goal.

7.57pm GMT

40 min “The blood is pouring through David Luiz’s bandage,” says Mary Waltz. “His on-field examination looked complete but honestly, sub him out. No football match is worth the risk. That clash of heads was too violent to take a chance on his long-term health.”

There is definitely a problem with delayed concussion as well.

7.55pm GMT

39 min Neto runs at David Luiz on the left and hits a terrific cross that bounces right across the face of goal. Fabio Silva and Podence couldn’t quite get on the end of it.

7.53pm GMT

That looked awful. I hope @Raul_Jimenez9 is ok. Get well soon! Some things are more important than football! @Wolves @premierleague

7.53pm GMT

36 min “How is it possible that Luiz is still playing after that?” says Jeff. “I happen to have had brain surgery a few weeks ago (relatively minor, apparently ‘the mole removal of brain surgery’), and am not allowed to even jog until January. Can’t see how Arsenal’s doctors could have determined the severity of Luiz’s injury so quickly. I can’t imagine any metric in which his continued presence on the pitch could be deemed worth it (tactical, existential, medical, etc.). While I realise I’m writing this from the other side of an ocean, that he’s still playing feels quite shameful.”

While I agree it doesn’t feel right, I’m loath to be too critical simply because I don’t know enough about the procedure or the tests they do. There’s a common assumption that doctors who allow somebody to play on after a clash of heads are fly-by-night chancers, but that surely isn’t the case.

7.50pm GMT

34 min Fabio Silva’s shot deflects behind off David Luiz, who is bleeding slightly through his bandage. The resulting corner leads to a good chance for Dendoncker, who heads tamely at Leno from six yards.

7.47pm GMT

No matter, Arsenal are level now. Willian took a short corner with Bellerin and dumped a cross towards the far post, where Gabriel ignored the shirtpulling of Marcal to thump an emphatic header past Rui Patricio. That was a fine finish.

7.46pm GMT

30 min Arsenal almost equalise straight away. Tierney gets round the back and guides a cross towards Aubameyang, who is about to score when Coady stretches to divert the ball away from him. Great defending.

7.45pm GMT

29 min “It’s a bit shocking that Luiz is still on isn’t it?” says Chris. “Considering all the news about long term damage due to head injuries in football and it’s even more egregious.”

I was pretty surprised. But I’m no expert on concussion tests, and I’d be even more surprised if the Arsenal medical staff hadn’t assessed him thoroughly. Whether the protocol is correct is another matter.

7.44pm GMT

The goal was made brilliantly by Traore, who skinned Tierney and stood up a lovely cross towards the far post. Dendoncker leapt to thump a header off the crossbar, and Neto slammed the rebound through Gabriel on the line.

7.43pm GMT

Pedro Neto gives Wolves the lead.

7.40pm GMT

24 min Dendoncker appeals for a penalty after being eased off the ball by Willock. Michael Oliver isn’t interested.

7.39pm GMT

23 min Raul Jimenez has been taken straight to hospital. That’s the only update that has been given on Sky Sports.

7.36pm GMT

20 min Nothing much has happened since the game resumed. It doesn’t feel like the most important thing in the world right now.

7.34pm GMT

18 min David Luiz went across to see Jimenez as he was being stretchered off and had a chat with one of the doctors. He looked pretty shocked. There hasn’t been an update yet, so we don’t know whether Jimenez was conscious when he was stretchered off.

7.33pm GMT

Awful looking head injury to Raul Jimenez. Hope it’s not as serious as it appears.

7.32pm GMT

16 min Play resumes just under 10 minutes after the clash of heads between Jimenez and David Luiz. There is, as you can imagine, a very subdued atmosphere around the ground.

7.31pm GMT

15 min Jimenez is slowly stretchered off the field. He is being moved really carefully around the perimeter of the pitch.

7.28pm GMT

13 min Fabio Silva has come on to replace Raul Jimenez, though he is still being treated on the field. This is really grim.

7.27pm GMT

11 min David Luiz is having his head bandaged on the touchline, which suggests he will continue. Raul Jimenez is still being treated in the six-yard box. Sky have not shown a replay, which suggests the clash of heads was as unpleasant as it sounded.

7.25pm GMT

10 min There are six or seven medical staff around Raul Jimenez, with two more holding a stretcher. He’s been down for the best part of five minutes now.

7.23pm GMT

8 min It’s not Dendoncker, it’s Raul Jimenez. This is pretty worrying; he is still being treated and is in the recovery position.

7.23pm GMT

7 min David Luiz is getting to his feet, but the Wolves player hasn’t moved. David Luiz has a gash on his forehead that is being treated.

7.21pm GMT

5 min Willian’s corner leads to an awful clash of heads between Luiz and one of the Wolves players, Dendoncker I think. This looks serious, and the Wolves players are already signalling for a stretcher.

7.20pm GMT

4 min Willian’s cross is put behind for a corner by Coady, who apparently is playing in a back four for the first time at Wolves.

7.19pm GMT

4 min Willock goes down after Traore accidentally stands on his toe. He’s limping but should be fine.

7.19pm GMT

3 min A promising Arsenal counter-attack ends with Saka’s cutback being intercepted at the near post.

7.16pm GMT

1 min Peep peep! Wolves kick off from right to left. It looks like Wolves are playing with a back four, which means they pulled a fast one on Twitter.

7.12pm GMT

The players emerge on an overcast night in north London. Meantime, my colleague Daniel Harris has sent in this pre-match soundtrack.

7.01pm GMT

This match is 14th v 11th in the table. But it’s all so tight that either team could end the night in sixth place. A Snakes & Ladders board has got nothing on the 2020-21 Premier League.

6.59pm GMT

“Act II, scene 1,” begins Bill Hargreaves. “The deathly quiet becomes a murmur as the chest of Covid football begins to rise, draw breath, then splutter once again into terrace chant, referee bonhomie, VAR debate, and critique of football ground food and beverage. It’s alive, I tell you...

6.52pm GMT

“Notice you’ve gone for 4-2-3-1 for the Wolves line-up,” says Phil Russell, “but their Twitter has it as the usual 5-2-3 with Neto as the latest name pulled out of Nuno’s tombola to have a go at wingback. Really missing the departed Doherty and the injured Jonny Otto this season!”

Interesting; I never really thought of Neto as a wing-back. I’ll amend the team accordingly.

6.32pm GMT

Pre-match reading

Related: Echoing stadium may be a wintry void but Arsenal fans cannot wait to return

6.22pm GMT

Arsenal (possible 4-3-3) Leno; Bellerin, David Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney; Dani Ceballos, Willock, Xhaka; Willian, Aubameyang, Saka.
Substitutes: Runarsson, Holding, Cedric, Elneny, Lacazette, Nelson, Nketiah.

Wolves (possible 3-4-3) Rui Patricio; Boly, Coady, Marcal; Semedo, Dendoncker, Moutinho, Neto; Traore, Jimenez, Podence.
Substitutes: Ruddy, Hoever, Kilman, Ait-Nouri, Neves, Vitinha, Fabio Silva.

5.49pm GMT

Hello. Binary is a base-2 number system invented by Gottfried Leibniz that is made up of only two numbers: 0 and 1. This number system is the basis for all binary code, which is used to write data such as the computer processor instructions used every day. Of late, it has also been used in the majority of association football matches played by Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Yep, it’s the meeting of the binary boys at the Emirates. Wolves and Arsenal have both scored nine and conceded 10 in the 2020-21 Premier League, and most of those goals came at the start of the season. Both sides have been solid in defence and peculiarly impotent in attack. Despite their attacking riches, Arsenal go into tonight’s match having scored once in their five league games, and that was a penalty.

Continue reading...
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on November 29, 2020 13:22
No comments have been added yet.


Rob Smyth's Blog

Rob Smyth
Rob Smyth isn't a Goodreads Author (yet), but they do have a blog, so here are some recent posts imported from their feed.
Follow Rob Smyth's blog with rss.