Arsenal got the win they desperately needed but in the ugliest fashion possible, relying on two Wolves own goals to secure a 2-1 victory at the Emirates. The three points keeps them top of the pile, but this was a performance that did little to convince the restless home crowd.
For over an hour, Mikel Arteta’s side were painfully blunt. They huffed and puffed but created little of note, with Gabriel Martinelli particularly wasteful. Not a single shot on target was registered in a dire first half. Arteta had seen enough, making a triple change before the hour mark, hooking Martinelli, Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi for Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino.
The changes sparked a bit of life. Declan Rice finally forced Sam Johnstone into a save, but the breakthrough, when it came, was pure fortune. On 70 minutes, Bukayo Saka’s corner caused chaos. Johnstone, scrambling, managed to tip it onto the post, only for the ball to cannon back off his arm and into the net. The stadium exhaled in massive relief more than celebration.
The drama wasn’t done. Gabriel Jesus, on for his first home game in nearly a year, watched as Wolves stunned the Emirates with a 90th minute equaliser. Mateus Mane’s cross was nodded in superbly by Tolu Arokodare. It looked like two costly points dropped for the Gunners.
But in a final, bizarre twist, Arsenal nicked it. Saka was again the provider, whipping in a dangerous ball that Jesus attacked. Under pressure, Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera could only turn it past his own keeper. A cruel, cruel blow for the visitors.
The win papers over some significant cracks for Arsenal, but the table won’t care. They stay top, for now. For Wolves, it’s a heartbreaking ninth straight league defeat. They’ve only got two points all season and are staring down the barrel of a historically bad campaign. Attention now turns to Sunday, where Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City travel to Crystal Palace, looking to close the gap. Arsenal got away with one here, but they’ll need to be miles better to stay there.
