Arsenal 2-1 Wolves: Tighter than it should have been

Match report – Player ratings – Arteta reaction – Video

Arsenal went four points clear at the top of the Premier League with a win over Wolves that was very comfortable … until it wasn’t. We were dominant but had to face a nervous final 15 minutes after a mistake at the back allowed the visitors a goal out of nothing.

The old adage about 2-0 being the most dangerous scoreline in football might be a bit of a cliche, but ask Arsenal fan and they’ll back it right up. We’ve seen it more than once, and it was hard not to worry we weren’t going to let a couple of points slip on a day when all three should have been secured long before that error let them back into it.

We started brilliantly, Bukayo Saka combing with Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu to put us ahead in the 6th minute. Mikel Arteta has spoken recently about players needing to be efficient in tight spaces, and while Wolves might feel they could have defended better, Saka’s movement is just so sharp, and he made no mistake with the finish.

Seven minutes later and the lead was doubled. Saka’s cross from the right was just too heavy, but we recycled possession, Zinchenko’s give and go with Jesus was superb – the cushioned return from the Brazilian was inch perfect – and the Ukrainian pulled it back for Martin Odegaard to sweep the ball home for 2-0. It wasn’t an easy finish either, but he made it look that way.

Early goals change the complexion of games, and after sticking five past Lens in the first half on Wednesday, you hoped we were on course to at least add another before the break. A brilliant take from an Odegaard pass saw a chance for Leandro Trossard but the keeper made a good save, Rice had a good effort deflect wide, and Gabriel Martinelli hit the post – the rebound squirting the wrong way for both Saka and Jesus.

A Zinchenko mistake required excellent defending from Martinelli who did so well to bail his teammate out, which is part of why he drew praise from his…

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Author : arseblog

Publish date : 2023-12-03 07:30:04

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