Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hailed Francis Coquelin's bravery during victory over Everton.
Coquelin collected a broken nose, but did not want to come off.
Wenger said: "They told me he was bleeding but that he could stay on. The second time he was hit again so after that I had to take him off. I had been told by the medical people that he could stay on.
"He wanted to stay on. He didn't play here for a long time so now that he plays, of course he doesn't want to come off the pitch."