Arsenal have confirmed that Frida Maanum is “talking and stable” after she collapsed during this afternoon’s Conti Cup final.. The 24-year-old was stretchered off the pitch after collapsing off the ball in the closing stages of the Gunners’ match against Chelsea. Play was halted for seven minutes while the Norwegian international was treated by paramedics.. The BBC commentary team later issued an update, stating Maanum was responsive. Arsenal later confirmed that the midfielder was conscious via their official club channel, the Mirror reports.. READ MORE: Heartbreak of Andy Martin’s wife following The Star and Garter landlord’s sudden death. The Gunners posted on social media: “Frida is conscious, talking and in a stable condition. She will continue to be monitored closely by our medical team. We’re all with you, Frida.”. Maanum’s team-mate, Chloe Kelly, and Chelsea’s Niamh Charles got the attention of referee Cheryl Foster to halt the match. Alessia Russo came on for the final minutes of the match, which went into extra-time after finishing 0-0.. Former England defender Fern Whelan lambasted the decision to restart the match so swiftly after the incident. She said on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: “We need to realise that the players are human beings and just to get this small mental break more than anything after what has just happened is important.. “They have seen their player go down on the pitch in worrying scenes. Regroup, try and get their heads back into it, and come back to the fact that they are in a cup final and go again. Another 30 minutes of extra time to play and a chance to wrap it up before we go to penalties.”. Maanum, who has made 28 appearances in total for Arsenal this season, joined the Gunners from Swedish in 2021 after a spell with Linkoping.
