Arsenal 2 Wolves 1
The Gunners welcomed Gary O’Neil’s side to The Emirates, after the visitors were once again dealt a bad hand by VAR in the capital against Fulham last time out. Arsenal had the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Mikel Arteta’s side took to the pitch in new training tops, which can only be described as the sort of thing your nan gets you from TK Maxx as she knew you liked football as a kid and this jacket definitely had one in its questionable design.
Arsenal started the game with a high-tempo and scored a first goal of the game within six minutes. Saka scored it but the Wolves’ defence treated him like Moses as they parted to allow him to run through on goal.
Arteta’s side then scored a great team goal as Saka’s cross reached Zinchenko who eventually teed it up to Odegaard on the penalty spot, to drill a left-footed shot into the bottom corner. Already Saka was starting to look like the player we saw more of last season.
Credit: @Arsenal
Trossard had the chance to make it three when he controlled a through ball from Odegaard but Jose Sa came out well to block. It was to be the keeper’s last involvement in the game as he was substituted having picked up an earlier injury.
Martinelli then tried to bend one past the new goalkeeper but the woodwork was to spit the ball back out. Arsenal fans were loving what they were seeing as their side looked in rampant mood for more goals in North London.
Hwang almost got a goal back for the visitors as he ran through onto a pass but the striker missed the ball completely and Raya made a block, although he was in fact saving a pass from the halfway line. Take your wins where you can get them, I suppose.
The second half began as the first did with Rice putting a ball into the box but Jesus went down in dramatic style. The Brazilian was demanding a penalty but the referee was not interested. VAR reviewed it but as the replay showed the defender seemed to be holding his hand, certainly nothing worth him going down like he was on Omaha Beach.
Cunha weaved his way into a shooting position in the Arsenal box and forced a save out of Drake lookalike David Raya. It was a warning for Arteta’s side that all it would take was a goal and this game would be back in the balance.
Odegaard then set Trossard through but Bentley made a good save to deny him and then also stopped Saka’s follow up. Since his introduction, the Wolves number two had given a good account of himself on the big occasion.
Credit: @Arsenal
As the visitors looked to clear, they went straight up the other end of the pitch and Hwang did well to send the Arsenal defender to the shops with a dummied shot before getting a shot off at goal. Raya did enough to block it at the near post.
The Gunners showed their defensive frailties as Zinchenko was robbed of the ball in his own box and Cunha sent the ball into the top corner, giving the keeper no chance. It was a shock to the system for the home fans who thought this game was done and dusted.
Arsenal then had the chance to put the game to bed but as the keeper committed himself with a dive, Nketiah somehow hit the post when it seemed easier to score. If Arteta’s side win nothing this season it will be down to their misfiring strikers, that is for sure.
By this stage, Arteta was sweating so much there are rumours people saw a black stream of hair dye trickling down his forehead but sadly this was not caught on camera. The Gunners took all three points despite the late scare from Gary O’Neil’s side to extend their lead at the top to four points.
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