Former Arsenal player taken to hospital after a scary injury during the game
Former Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin was rushed to hospital after a scary head clash during a game in France.
This transfer window has been busy, and Coquelin, 35, chose to sign with Ligue 2 team Laval on a free transfer. Laval is his hometown club and the team he grew up supporting. The move was a long-awaited homecoming after he left their youth academy 18 years ago to join Arsenal.
Coquelin made his debut for Laval in an away game against Rodez AF, coming on as a substitute for 25 minutes in a 3-1 loss. But his happy return to Stade Francis Le Basser quickly turned into a worrying moment.
In just his second match, he was involved in a fierce clash of heads with Wilitty Younoussa, who was making his debut for Nantes. The impact was so strong that the French Red Cross had to step in.
Both players were taken off the field on stretchers. Thankfully, Coquelin was awake but was taken to hospital for scans and tests. Doctors found he might have a broken eye socket, which could keep him out for several months.
French reporter Cyprien Legeay shared: “There was major concern in Laval after Francis Coquelin and Wilitty Younoussa clashed heads hard. The players quickly signaled for the Red Cross to come.”
After the game, Laval coach David Vignes said the injury looked “pretty serious” and likely means Coquelin will be out for a while. Despite this, Laval went on to win 2-1 against Nantes with a last-minute goal, moving up to tenth place in Ligue 2.
Coquelin played 160 games for Arsenal, winning the FA Cup twice. He also spent time on loan at Lorient, Freiburg, and Charlton. After Arsenal, he spent three years at Valencia, then four years with Villarreal, where he won the Europa League.
Before joining Laval, he played two seasons for Nantes, making this match against his former team his first since the move.