Arsenal rebounded from their UEFA Champions League exit to Bayern Munich with a 2-0 victory over Wolves at Molineux – a result that sent them back to the top of the Premier League. Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard got the goals, as Gary O’Neil’s hosts were unable to make inroads on their opponents’ defence. The Gunners now have 74 points, one ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard were on target as Arsenal earned a vital 2-0 win against Wolves at Molineux to return to the top of the Premier League.
After exiting the UEFA Champions League to Bayern Munich in midweek, this was the perfect response from Mikel Arteta’s side.
The Gunners enjoyed the best of the possession in the first half, but it was Wolves who came closest to breaking the deadlock when Joao Gomes’ close-range effort was tipped onto the post by David Raya. In a first half where they needed to be patient, Arsenal remained persistent and eventually took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Trossard’s sliced effort crashed off the post and into the net.
Arteta’s side threatened to double their lead in a dominant second half, but Wolves managed to keep the Gunners at bay to remain in contention.
However, Arsenal finally broke the home side down for a second time when Odegaard rolled the ball into the net from a tight angle deep into added time.
The result means Arsenal go above Manchester City and into first place for the time being, as Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand.
Arsenal will have the chance to further extend their lead at the top of the table when they host Chelsea on Tuesday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. At this stage of the season, the result is all that matters. Arteta’s side were not at their free-flowing best on Saturday but it was mightily important to bounce back from successive defeats ahead of the final Premier League run-in.
They go ahead of City by a point and although Guardiola’s side have a game-in-hand, it will be a huge mental boost for Arsenal who play again before City are back in action. Rice was influential defensively and offensively throughout the match, where he created the most chances of anyone on the pitch (5) as he sparked numerous Arsenal attacks with his surging runs from midfield.
In this type of game, Rice’s qualities are unmatched. He shielded the defence well – who were hardly troubled – while also getting forward and contributing in the third.
He even had a few chances to score but was not quite as clinical in front of goal as he has been this season, but even in the dying seconds he was charging through midfield, closing defenders down and retrieving the ball at crucial moments in vital areas.
A top-class all-round performance.
MATCH RATINGS
Wolves: Sa 6, S. Bueno 5, Kilman 6, T. Gomes 5, Doherty 7, Traore 7, J. Gomes 6, H. Bueno 6, Chirewa 6, Doyle 6, Hwang 6
Subs: Ait Nouri 5, Lemina 6, Sarabia 6
Arsenal: Raya 7, White 7, Saliba 7, Gabriel 7, Kiwior 7, Odegaard 8, Rice 8, Havertz 7, Saka 7, Jesus 8, Trossard 8
Subs: Partey 6, Martinelli 6
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
2’ – HAVERTZ DENIED! Arsenal are on the front foot straight away as Kwior whips in a ball from the left which Havertz takes on first time, but Jose Sa gets down well to save the German’s low effort.
20’ – CHANCE FOR ARSENAL! Trossards sets the ball to Rice on the edge of the box following a promising move, but the midfielder goes just wide of the left post again with a low drive.
30’ – OFF THE POST! Kwior loses the ball and Wolves break forward through Gomes, who strikes from a tight ankle at the near post which Raya pushes onto the woodwork. It’s a great save!
45’ – GOAL!!! – WOLVES 0-1 ARSENAL (TROSSARD): Arsenal finally break the deadlock, right on the stroke of half-time! Havertz curls the ball into Jesus who is brought down in the box but gets back to his feet to lay it off to Trossard, who slices the ball towards the back post as it crashes off the frame of the goal and into the net. The Gunners lead!
56’ – HAVERTZ STRIKES! The free-kick is straight into the wall but Arsenal recycle the loose ball which drops to Havertz in the box, he takes a swing at it and connects well, but Sa saves the low effort. Either side of the goalkeeper and that’s surely 2-0!
90’+3 – RICE’S EFFORT PALMED AWAY! The midfielder’s drilled effort from the edge of the box is beaten away by Sa.
90’+4 – AN EXCELLENT HAND BY SA! Arsenal come close to a second again as Martinelli drives towards goal before his close-range effort is denied by a strong Sa right hand.
90’+6 – GOAL!!! – WOLVES 0-2 ARSENAL (ODEGAARD): Game, set and match! Arsenal are heading back to the top of the Premier League! Havertz feeds Odegaard in on the right who initially has an effort blocked, before he guides the rebound into the net from the tightest of angles.