Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez was taken to hospital after suffering a head injury during his side’s Premier League match against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Argentine goalkeeper required medical attention after colliding with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite while attempting to punch the ball clear from a free-kick. Both players fell to the ground following the impact, prompting an extended stoppage as medical staff attended to them.
Martinez was eventually carried off on a stretcher, with Chelsea leading 1-0 following Pedro Neto’s goal. The goalkeeper was booed by sections of the crowd as he left the pitch.
Alonso Confirms Martinez Was Conscious
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso provided an update on Martinez’s condition after the match, saying the goalkeeper had been taken to hospital for precautionary examinations.
“As far as I know, he left the stadium conscious,” Alonso told TNT Sports. “He’s in the hospital doing precautionary tests. This is what I know so far.”
Medical personnel had administered oxygen to Martinez while he lay on his back on the pitch. He was lifted onto a stretcher after approximately six minutes, with the overall incident causing a delay of around 10 minutes.
Martinez appeared to be conscious as he was taken off, with his arms moving while he was being stretchered away.
Branthwaite Receives Treatment and Continues Playing
Branthwaite also received treatment following the collision. The Everton defender sustained cuts to his nose and lip and underwent a concussion assessment before being allowed to continue playing.
The television broadcast by TNT Sports did not show a replay of the collision, with cameras cutting away from Martinez as medical staff treated him.
Chelsea eventually replaced the injured goalkeeper in the 73rd minute, bringing on Mike Penders.
Penders Makes Premier League Debut
Penders, a 21-year-old Belgian goalkeeper who has previously played for Genk and Strasbourg, entered the match in place of Martinez to make his Premier League debut.
Martinez joined Chelsea from Aston Villa for £7.5 million late in the transfer window, with the club bringing him in amid concerns over their goalkeeping options.
Former Chelsea first-choice goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had conceded three goals in the opening-weekend defeat against Fulham before moving to Como on loan.
Martinez, a member of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad, has faced challenges behind Chelsea’s defence and is yet to complete a full 90-minute match without conceding a goal.
Neto Scores Again as Chelsea Secure Victory
Pedro Neto scored his second goal of the match in the 90th minute, helping Chelsea secure three points against an Everton side that had entered the game unbeaten.
The result moved Alonso’s team into fourth place in the Premier League table, while Everton dropped to sixth. As the match was the first fixture of the weekend, the standings remained subject to change as other teams played.
Chelsea Respond After Defeat by Brentford
Chelsea’s victory followed a 5-1 win over Bournemouth, marking an improvement after their 3-0 defeat to Brentford before the international break.
The win at Everton gave Chelsea another three points as they continued their recent run of improved results, while attention turned to Martinez’s condition following the head injury.
