Wolves boss Bruno Lage has told Amazon Prime he is sorry for his ‘bad communication’ at Arsenal after changing his mind when initially attempting to substitute striker Raul Jimenez.
The Gunners fought back to beat the Molineux side 2-1 at home on Thursday night with a 95th-minute winner. Hwang Hee-Chan gave Wolves an early lead at the Emirates Stadium after a Gabriel Magalhaes mistake. But Lage’s men could not hold on to see out the result.
Wolves produced a very defensive display in a desperate bid to stay ahead in north London. Yet two Mikel Arteta substitutes combined to draw Arsenal level with Eddie Nketiah cutting the ball back to Nicolas Pepe. Jose Sa would then tip in Alexandre Lacazette’s mishit strike.
Confusion had descended on the Emirates at the start of second-half stoppage-time whilst the score remained level. Lage sought to put fresh legs into his side in the hope of at least taking a point, having shown little in attack after going ahead and time-wasting throughout.
But despite the fourth official showing Jimenez’s number, the Mexican refused to leave the field. Instead, he and Lage indicated a different Wolves player was injured and now wanted Jimenez to stay on at Arsenal. Eventually, Leander Dendoncker replaced Daniel Podence.
Wolves boss Lage sorry for ‘bad communication’ in Jimenez sub at Arsenal
Referee Martin Atkinson awarded Jimenez a yellow card for the Wolves star refusing to go off at Arsenal. He repeatedly told the striker to exit the pitch, only to see the 30-year-old go and stand beside the touchline. But Lage insists the situation was not a ploy to waste time.
“The first thing is to say about that situation in the end, it was bad communication between me and my staff,” Lage said. “I changed my mind at the last minute and I apologise. It is not my intention to come here and waste time with these things, but we move on.”
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