Arsenal took a two-goal lead and suffered a crushing defeat in the title race, while Wolves managed to draw 2-2 in stoppage time at Molineux.
Tom Edsey, 19, came off the bench to score the equalizer on his Premier League debut after a scuffle between Gabriel and David Raya, in an unusual scene as manager Mikel Arteta watched on in disbelief as the Gunners lost control against the bottom club.
With Bukayo Saka’s early goal, Arsenal were completely dominant in the first half and it looked like it was going to be an easy night for the Premier League leaders. It was no surprise when Piero Hincapie scored his first goal for the club early in the second half.
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Bukayo Saka scored Arsenal’s first goal against Wolves, ending their run of 15 games without conceding.
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Pierrot Hincapie scores his first goal for Arsenal, doubling the Gunners’ lead against Wolves in the Premier League.
However, Hugo Bueno’s superb curling shot into the top corner changed the mood and Arsenal tried to pull back and maintain their advantage. This was countered by a sharp blow from Edsey, but Riccardo Calafioli could not prevent causing an uproar inside Molineux.
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Bueno scored a sensational strike to halve Wolves’ lead over Arsenal in the Premier League.
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Arsenal conceded late on, with Riccardo Calafioli unable to keep the ball out of the net.
Arsenal have extended their lead at the top of the table to five points, but with Manchester City still having a game in hand and Arteta’s side still due to travel to the Etihad Stadium this season, this could be a major turning point in the race for the Premier League title.
Melson slams Arsenal, calling them ‘slow and lazy’
Paul Merson of Sky Sports:
“If Man City win all their next games they will win the league, which is a shame.
“You can’t play in second gear. There was a sense of urgency when Wolves were up 2-2. We never had that before. We can’t play like that. Every game is a cup final until the end.”
“We have to play at a high tempo. If Arsenal play at a high tempo, Wolves can’t stay with them. But when you play like them, it’s slow and lazy and once they give you the ball, Wolves will always be in the game.”
“That could come back to bite them again, which is really, really disappointing tonight.
“We’re working hard right now, with bottle jobs and melting. We drew with Brentford and got a two-goal lead against the worst team in the league, so we’re working hard right now.”
Arteta: “We deserve a hit”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports.
“It is difficult to accept that in the second half we did not perform in any aspect of the game to the standard required to win games in the Premier League and we have paid the price for that.
“So many things went wrong one after the other. It’s best not to criticize it. We’re all too emotional about it and it’s not the time to do that. When you don’t perform, it’s at this level and the expectations are there. You have to take a hit, because we deserve it too.”
Saka: I lost my momentum.
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Bukayo Saka reacts to Arsenal losing a two-goal lead against Wolves
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka told Sky Sports:
“It’s very flat. I’m very disappointed with the result, especially the way we played in the second half. We’re nowhere near the level we set this season.
“It’s time to reflect on the few performances we had, fix things right away and win games to pick things up and get some momentum, because we’ve lost a little bit of that right now.”
Smith: Man City would prefer it now
Alan Smith of Sky Sports:
“We have said many times that they are the best team in the league, the best team, but that means nothing if they don’t have the composure and ability to play under pressure and get results. I think that word will be used quite a bit in the coming days.”
“Man City will think they can feel us breathing on their shoulders and from their own experience and from Guardiola’s experience, they really want that now.
“Obviously it’s a big game for them against Newcastle at the weekend, but you can feel the nerves in the Arsenal team watching it tonight.”
Who is Tom Edsey?
The young Wolves player, whose swinging right foot changed the face of the title race, is not well known even among his own supporters. Even his manager is getting to know him. “We’re still learning about him, too,” said Edwards of Edsey.
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder, who signed a professional contract in 2024 and came on as an unused substitute before this game, didn’t even have a Wikipedia page when his shot deflected into the Arsenal goal.
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Rob Edwards says he wanted more support from Wolves fans against Arsenal
“He impressed us with some really great moments. He’s technically a talented player but we’re still learning ourselves about him. We just felt it,” Edwards added.
“I thought JJ (Bellegarde) was great in this game. Obviously, he’s been out for a while. Sometimes you feel something and your instincts are proven right. When he came on, I just put my arm around him and said this could be your moment, go and take it.”
“I think the first few touches were difficult. Declan Rice was breathing down his neck. It was a bit new for him, but then I thought he scored brilliantly. It was a great moment for him.”
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A look back at the remaining Premier League matches between Arsenal and Man City
