Arsenal 2-1 Wolves: Gunners move five points clear at the top after dramatic win | Football
Arsenal temporarily extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points after a dramatic 2-1 home win over Wolves.
Mikel Arteta’s side looked like they were going to drop two valuable points against the side rooted to the bottom of the table when Tolu Arokodare headed home in injury time to cancel out an earlier Wolves own goal.
But man-of-the-match Bukayo Saka summoned one last moment of quality to snatch victory for his side when his cross flew into Wolves’ net for a second own goal in the 94th minute.
A crucial victory, when Arsenal were far from their best, moves them five points ahead of Manchester City, who face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
The Gunners were heavy favourites to cruise to victory against bottom-of-the-table Wolves, who have picked up two points all season and none since the arrival of Rob Edwards.
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But the visitors did an excellent job of frustrating Arteta’s side and had the best chance of the first half when Hwang Hee-Chan burst through on goal and forced a good save from David Raya.
Arsenal kept probing in the second period, but largely lacked energy or quality in the final third other than through Saka down the right wing.
And wearing the captain’s armband with Martin Odegaard named on the bench, it was Saka who produced the game’s opening goal, albeit in somewhat comical fashion.
Sam Johnstone, who moments earlier had made two smart saves to deny Declan Rice, saw Saka’s corner delivery float over his head, but could do nothing as it bounced back off the post and into the net off his back.
Despite not tasting victory so far this season, Wolves did not let their head drops away from home, and the visitors thought they had snatched a vital point at the death when Arokodare met Matheus Mane’s cross to fire a bullet header past Raya.
But there was one last twist in the tale, as only four minutes later, Wolves conceded a second own goal, Yerson Mosquera heading into his own net under pressure from Gabriel Jesus.
Relive Arsenal’s dramatic late win over Wolves with Metro’s matchday blog below.
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That’s all for tonight!
Well, what late drama. A huge result for Arsenal and that gives them a bit more breathing space heading into this busy festive period.
That will do us for tonight, though. Thanks for tuning in and catch you next time!
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 2-1 Wolves
A huge sigh of relief from everyone in red inside the Emirates as the full-time whistle goes.
It looked like Arsenal were about to be forced to settle for a point, but a second Wolves own goal ensures that Mikel Arteta’s take all three points and move five points clear at the top of the table.
It was a game devoid of quality, but how about that for late drama!
Arsenal 2-1 Wolves
90+7 mins: Jesus powers forward on the break, but he can’t quite get the power on the strike to trouble Johnstone in the Wolves goal.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Wolves (Mosquera own goal, 90+4 mins)
Arsenal have surely snatched the winner!
Saka has been Arsenal’s only bright spark in attack and his cross is headed into the net by Wolves’ centre-back, Mosequera.
Two own goals for Wolves and Arsenal may just have bailed themselves out in the final minutes of injury time.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Wolves (Arokodare, 90 mins)
Wow, wow, wow!
Wolves have not let their head drops since going behind, and now have a huge late equaliser against the league leaders.
It’s a great, pacey cross from Mane, and there is Arokodare to flick home a superb header past Raya to level things up.
Arsenal 1-0 Wolves
86 mins: Wolves with another change as Toti is replaced by Mane.
Arsenal 1-0 Wolves
83 mins: Trossard gets his first sight of goal, and tries to wrongfoot Johnstone but the ball flies into the side-netting.
Arsenal 1-0 Wolves
81 mins: And Arsenal follow with a change of their own, as Gyokeres is replaced by Jesus.
Arsenal 1-0 Wolves
80 mins: Lopez and Arias on for Krejci and Hwang for Wolves in the final ten minutes.
Arsenal 1-0 Wolves
75 mins: Superb work from Gyokeres who brings down the ball and uses his body well to create a slight opening for a shot.
It’s a tight angle, though, and the effort just drifts wide off the post.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Wolves (Johnstone own goal, 70 mins)
A huge slice of luck for the hosts!
Wolves have defended so impressively but they’re undone in bizarre style.
Saka’s delivery from the free-kick floats over the head of Johnstone but bounces off the far post and into the net via the back of the Wolves keeper.
Not a great goal – but Arsenal won’t care one bit!
Arsenal 0-0 Wolves
69 mins: Two changes for Wolves as Docherty and Strand Larsen make way for Tchatchoua and Arokodare.
Arsenal 0-0 Wolves
68 mins: SAVE! An even better stop from Johnstone this time, getting down quickly to his right to palm away Rice’s curling effort. The ball just evades Saka who was following in and looking for a rebound.
Arsenal 0-0 Wolves
66 mins: Rice tries to summon something special from a free-kick, but Johnstone is equal to it, making his first save of the evening and tipping the ball over the bar.
Arsenal 0-0 Wolves
64 mins: Arsenal are growing increasingly frustrated by Wolves’ tactics as they continue to make the most of fouls and take their time restarting play.
The visitors won’t care one bit if they can hold on for a win, though.
Arsenal 0-0 Wolves
60 mins: A poor, poor challenge from Hwang, who is very late into the challenge on Lewis-Skelly. VAR has a look but it’s just a yellow for the Wolves forward.
Arsenal 0-0 Wolves
57 mins: Martinelli gets the better of Docherty down the right and looks for a curling effort towards the far post but the angle is just too tight as the ball flies out for a goal-kick.
That’s Martinelli’s last act of the game as he makes way for Trossard. Zubimendi and Eze also come off, with Merino and Odegaard on in their place.
Arsenal 0-0 Wolves
55 mins: Saka dances infield and collides with Toti. Both stay on the floor and play is stopped.
On the Arsenal bench, there is plenty of movement, though, with Trossard, Odegaard and Merino all looking poised to come on.
Arsenal 0-0 Wolves
51 mins: Arsenal are being afforded so little space on the ball in attacking areas.
Martinelli picks it up on the left side and instantly is swarmed by three players in an away shirt. The Brazilian does well to get around two before the ball bounces out for a goal-kick.
Arsenal 0-0 Wolves
48 mins: Wave after wave of Arsenal pressure to start this second half, but Johnstone still with little work to do in between the Wolves sticks.
It surely can’t be long before Arteta looks to turn to his bench for inspiration.
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Arsenal 2-1 Wolves: Gunners move five points clear at the top after dramatic win | Football
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