2 years ago
43
ARTICLE AD BOX
Martin Odegaard finished off a superb team move to double Arsenal's lead against WolvesArsenal moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League table with victory over Wolves at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners, 6-0 winners over Lens in midweek, took an early lead when Bukayo Saka got the better of Craig Dawson in the penalty area before firing low into the bottom corner.
It was 2-0 not long afterwards, Martin Odegaard finishing a magnificent team move involving Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to double the hosts' advantage.
Gabriel Martinelli struck the outside of the post with a low shot, while Leandro Trossard and Jesus both went close as Arsenal pressed for a third goal that would have put the result beyond doubt.
Wolves improved in the second half and Matheus Cunha tested David Raya's reflexes with a powerful effort at the near post, before curling a superb drive into the top corner to give the visitors hope with five minutes remaining.
Gary O'Neil's side were unable to complete the fightback, however, and Eddie Nketiah fired against the frame of the goal for Arsenal not long after Cunha's strike.
- Follow live text coverage of Arsenal v Wolves and the rest of Saturday's Premier League action
- How did you rate Arsenal's performance? Have your say here
- What did you make of Wolves' display? Send us your views here
Gunners get job done
Arsenal currently boast the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League, but they are now beginning to exhibit more of the free-flowing football that fuelled last season's title challenge.
The Gunners' second goal was a thing of beauty, Zinchenko playing a neat one-two with Jesus before cutting the ball back to Odegaard for a first-time finish beyond Jose Sa, who was injured while trying to save the Norwegian's effort.
They could - and maybe should - have been further ahead at the break after Trossard was denied by Sa from close range and Jesus blazed over the bar at the far post.
Martinelli was also denied by the woodwork at the end of another mesmerising Arsenal counter-attack.
The second half, as it was against Lens on Wednesday, was more low-key. Rice dragged a low shot off target and Trossard shoot straight at Wolves' substitute goalkeeper Dan Bentley from a good position, before Cunha halved the deficit late on.
It was a nervier finish than Arteta would have wanted, but the 41-year-old cut a very happy figure at full time as his side stretched their winning run in all competitions to five matches.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Arsenal
Squad number22Player nameRaya- Squad number18Player nameTomiyasu
- Squad number2Player nameSaliba
- Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães
- Squad number35Player nameZinchenko
- Squad number8Player nameØdegaard
- Squad number41Player nameRice
- Squad number19Player nameTrossard
- Squad number7Player nameSaka
- Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
- Squad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli
- Squad number4Player nameWhite
- Squad number14Player nameNketiah
- Squad number15Player nameKiwior
- Squad number20Player nameJorginho
- Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Squad number1Player nameJosé Sá
Squad number23Player nameKilman
Squad number15Player nameDawson
Squad number24Player nameToti Gomes
Squad number22Player nameNélson Semedo
Squad number6Player nameTraoré
Squad number20Player nameDoyle
Squad number27Player nameBellegarde
Squad number17Player nameBueno
Squad number12Player nameMatheus Cunha
Squad number11Player nameHwang Hee-chan
Squad number2Player nameDoherty
Squad number18Player nameKalajdzic
Squad number21Player nameSarabia
Squad number25Player nameBentley
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Raya
- 18TomiyasuSubstituted forWhiteat 79'minutes
- 2SalibaBooked at 68mins
- 6Gabriel
- 35Zinchenko
- 8ØdegaardSubstituted forJorginhoat 90+3'minutes
- 41Rice
- 19Trossard
- 7SakaSubstituted forKiwiorat 90+3'minutes
- 9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forNketiahat 67'minutes
- 11MartinelliSubstituted forHavertzat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Ramsdale
- 4White
- 14Nketiah
- 15Kiwior
- 17Cédric Soares
- 20Jorginho
- 24Nelson
- 25Elneny
- 29Havertz
Wolves
Formation 3-5-2
- 1SáSubstituted forBentleyat 23'minutes
- 23Kilman
- 15Dawson
- 24Gomes
- 22Nélson Semedo
- 6Traoré
- 20DoyleSubstituted forKalajdzicat 90+3'minutes
- 27BellegardeSubstituted forSarabiaat 63'minutes
- 17BuenoSubstituted forDohertyat 62'minutes
- 12Matheus CunhaBooked at 90mins
- 11Hwang Hee-chanBooked at 88mins
Substitutes
- 2Doherty
- 4Bueno
- 9Fábio Silva
- 18Kalajdzic
- 21Sarabia
- 25Bentley
- 62Chirewa
- 65Whittingham
- 67Hubner
Referee:Peter Bankes
Attendance:60,262
Live Text
Match ends, Arsenal 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card.
William Saliba (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sasa Kalajdzic (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sasa Kalajdzic (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Substitution, Arsenal. Jakub Kiwior replaces Bukayo Saka.
Substitution, Arsenal. Jorginho replaces Martin Ødegaard.
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Sasa Kalajdzic replaces Tommy Doyle.
Foul by Toti Gomes (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt blocked. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Bukayo Saka with a cross.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Nélson Semedo.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Matt Doherty.
Hwang Hee-Chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card.
Hwang Hee-Chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers) has gone down, but the referee deems it simulation.
Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard with a through ball.
Goal! Arsenal 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1. Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Nélson Semedo.
Offside, Arsenal. David Raya is caught offside.
English (US) ·