Arsenal 1-2 Wolves: Mikel Arteta 40/1 in Sack Race despite start, as Raul Jimenez head injury overshadows Wolves win
Mikel Arteta insisted he is not worried about his position despite Arsenal's awful start, as they lost 2-1 at home to Wolves - whose striker Raul Jimenez suffered a serious injury.
The defeat came a year to the day since Unai Emery was sacked as head coach, and means the Gunners sit 14th after 10 matches having lost half their games - it is Arsenal’s worst start to a season for 39 years.
But there has been no rush to back Arteta in the next Premier League manager to leave market, with the Spaniard available at as big a price as 40/1.
“It’s something that the day I decided to be a coach I know that one day I will be sacked or leave the football club,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s the day after I sign my contract, in a month’s time, a year’s time or six months’ time. I never worry about it.
“My only concern is to get the best out of the players, give the best possible service to the club and become better and better.
“I know, I repeat, in this profession, one day I will get the sack or leave but I don’t know when that is going to happen.”
Wolves win overshadowed
Wolves are now eagerly awaiting the assessment of a head injury suffered by Jimenez early in the match.
Victory at Emirates Stadium was the first time the club had won against the Gunners away from home in 41 years – an achievement somewhat overshadowed.
The Mexico forward was involved in a sickening clash of heads with David Luiz and was taken to hospital having received 10 minutes of treatment on the pitch.
While his team-mates were clearly shaken by the events, they rallied to win as Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence struck either side of a Gabriel Magalhaes header to earn a deserved victory.
After the game Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed Jimenez was conscious and responding to treatment – while Arsenal were left to defend leaving Luiz on until half-time.
Asked about his side’s reaction to the incident, Nuno replied: “Amazing. I’m very proud today. This team showed heart today – a belief in the way they ran and worked was very good to see.”
Wolves confirmed on Twitter that the Mexico striker had undergone scans at a London hospital as Nuno explained how he felt at the time the injury occurred.
“You start hearing code red. It’s serious,” he told Sky Sports.
“It was a bad moment for everybody. You see panic in their (medical staff) eyes and you start thinking how is he? We are worried. He is being assessed now. He is in good hands. It is serious, it was a big impact but he is aware.
“If I am allowed (to visit him in hospital) I wish but as I said before he is in good hands, he is being taken care of.”
Luiz came off the better of the two after the fifth-minute clash but was bandaged up and bleeding.
He was replaced at half-time by Rob Holding and manager Mikel Arteta explained that Luiz had passed all the protocols to allow him to continue but that he was withdrawn at the interval as he “wasn’t comfortable heading the ball.”