Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has lended his support to the family of Fabrice Muamba as the Bolton Wanderers midfielder remains in intensive care at the London Chest Hospital.

The 23-year-old, who began his career with the Gunners, suffered a cardiac arrest during the Trotters' FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

"This is of course a massive shock to us all and we just hope that Fabrice will pull through safely," Wenger said in a statement on the club's official website. "You pray that the damage will be repaired and that Fabrice will come out healthy and we will see his smile again. That is all you wish for.

"As a man, Fabrice has a positive attitude towards life, he is full of determination and has a great desire. Everyone at Arsenal has huge respect for Fabrice. Even after he left us, he often passed by to say hello and speak about how it was going for him. We feel very deeply attached to him.

"A football player always remains attached to where he was educated. Fabrice had his friends from childhood here and they remain your friends forever. We are all thinking of Fabrice, his family and everyone close to him."

A statement this morning confirmed that Muamba remains "critically ill" in hospital.