Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho defended his club's medical staff after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was allowed to play on despite injuring his head during Sunday's 2-0 win over Arsenal.

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez caught Courtois's head with his hip as he chased a pass from Jack Wilshere into the Chelsea box in the 10th minute of the Premier League game at Stamford Bridge.

Courtois continued playing after receiving treatment, but he was eventually obliged to give way to Petr Cech in the 24th minute, with television pictures showing blood running from his right ear.

Courtois was taken to hospital to undergo precautionary tests afterwards, but Mourinho said that he felt his medical staff had made the "correct" decision when they initially allowed him to remain on the pitch.

"We have Dr (Paco) Biosca, which is the head of the medical department, and he has his people," Mourinho told his post-match press conference.

"I always tell them that when I'm on the bench, I don't want to communicate with them. I don't want them to tell me, 'The player has this, the player has that.' I just want them to give me a decision.

"And they gave me the decision and for me, that's correct -- the club doctor or the club medical department to take control and take responsiblity."

The Football Association introduced new rules in August obliging clubs to substitute any player suspected of having lost consciousness during a Premier League game.

"If there has been a confirmed or suspected period of loss of consciousness, the player must be removed from the field of play, and not be allowed to return," the new guidelines state.

Tottenham Hotspur were criticised for allowing goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to play on after he was knocked out in a game against Everton last season, while Germany's Christoph Kramer was forced off by a concussion during the World Cup final.

But Mourinho played down the extent of Courtois's injury, saying: "Dr Biosca says that normally, (there is) nothing to be too much worried about."

Belgium international Courtois, 22, has supplanted Cech as Chelsea's first-choice goalkeeper this season after spending the last three years on loan at Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea's win, secured by goals from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, left them five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.