Not stricly speaking by the rules. I know referees don't follow the rules and often make up their own, because the FA want entertainment and common sense more than fairness, but the rules only call for the referee stopping play if there is no advantage from a foul, the injured player is interferring with play, or "if a player is seriously injured". Referees have also, in the last few years, been asked to stop the game for all head injuries. It does depend on your interpretation of "seriously injured" but most referees see that as an injury where a few minutes medical care (ie waiting until play stops) will be significant.
I do have to say though, that surely there should be some sort of law in place for League football, in which there has to be some sort of minimum standard of quality a pitch in each league has to reach. This was the entire reason for Mertesackers injury and it clearly wasn't suitable to have a football game on (probably somewhat intention by Sunderland to stop Arsenal passing it). Lucky that more players weren't injured on such a shoddy pitch, and its something the FA should investigate, because it will only lead to more and more injuries.
I agree with this. The pitch was the sole reason for Mertesacker's injury. Obviously our game is suited to playing a passing game on good pitch. We just about coped at SOL, but to be honest, it was a ****ing cabbage patch. I think there needs to be some standardisation of pitch quality, as well as dimensions (can you believe that pitches still differ in length and width ? ) The term 'level playing field' is an apt analogy.
I think that was when it happened, before people knew it was a bad injury. Initially it looked like he'd just tripped over his own feet.
