‘They stood their ground’: Gary Neville praises Arsenal and Southampton medical staff for not letting a FUMING Jan Bednarek back onto the pitch amid concussion fears after he landed on his neck following a challenge
- Gary Neville has praised medical staff at the Emirates Stadium on Friday
- Southampton and Arsenal staff refused to let Jan Bednarek back on the pitch
- The Southampton defender was subbed off after jumping and falling on his neck
Gary Neville praised Southampton and Arsenal medical staff at the Emirates stadium on Friday evening for refusing to allow Jan Bednarek back onto the pitch.
The Southampton defender was sprawled out on the turf after appearing to land on his neck while jumping to win a header as his side looked to protect their surprise two-goal lead against the league leaders in a crazy game that ended 3-3.
Bednarek received treatment on the pitch before then being moved to the side-line where he was assessed by Southampton’s medical team, who decided he wasn’t allowed back on amid apparent concussion fears.
Neville credited team doctors for standing their ground in not allowing the defender back onto the pitch, stating: ‘Bednarek is disappointed but sometimes you just need your medical staff to look after you.’
‘He is arguing with his medical team, doctor from the Arsenal team is coming up to him and saying you are off.
Jan Bednarek appeared concussed after falling on his neck as he tried to win a header
Bednarek fumed at his withdrawal after he was subbed off in the first-half in north London
Bednarek complained to Southampton medical staff as he was denied a return to the pitch
‘I don’t like them (falls). Good work from the medical team, they stood their ground, not easy,’ he added.
The Polish international wrestled with Saints staff who were trying to stop him from getting back on the pitch.
Members of the Arsenal medical team then assisted their opposition staff in instructing Bednarek that he won’t be going back on over concerns of his physical state.
Southampton manager Ruben Selles was then seen in conversation with his player who cut a dejected figure as he walked away down the Emirates tunnel to receive further treatment.
Concussion substitutions were introduced by the Premier League in 2021 to allow teams to make two extra changes when there is fear of a concussion injury.
Bednarek argued with his own players who tried to explain why he was being brought off
Gary Neville praised Southampton and Arsenal medical staff for ‘standing their ground’
The rule states: If the referee stops a match for a potential concussion injury to a player, the medical staff of that player’s team will enter the field of play to make an assessment while the tunnel doctor will review video footage of the incident.
The team doctor will have as much time as is required to make an on-pitch clinical assessment of the player.
However it was later confusingly revealed that Bednarek’s change wasn’t deemed as a concussion substitution, with Neville asking: ‘Why?’
Bednarek took his place in the Southampton dugout during the second-half as his side took a surprise 3-1 leader before being pegged back late on.
