Leaders Arsenal blew a 2-0 lead in dramatic fashion to draw at rock-bottom Wolves and missed the chance to go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Gunners defender Riccardo Calafiori turned in debutant Tom Edozie’s shot in the fourth minute of added time for a late leveller after goalkeeper David Raya and centre-back Gabriel made a mess of clearing a high ball into the box.
Hugo Bueno had started Wolves’ comeback with a stunning curling effort after Bukayo Saka, with his first goal in 15 games, and Piero Hincapie gave Arsenal what seemed a commanding lead.
The Gunners had control at Molineux as Bukayo Saka celebrated his new contract with the fifth-minute opener.
The England forward nodded in Declan Rice’s cross – just a day after signing a fresh five-year deal at the Emirates – before Hincapie added a 56th-minute second with a smart finish from a Gabriel pass for his first goal for the club.
Yet after Saka – who ended a 15-game goal drought in all competitions – went off following treatment, Arsenal struggled under pressure as Hugo Bueno pulled a goal back with a stunning curler in the 61st minute.
Wolves pushed at the end, and when Gabriel got in the way as Raya tried to clear a cross, 19-year-old Edozie, on for his senior debut as a substitute, slammed in a shot that struck Calafiori and went in off the post.
Arsenal were stunned, with tempers frayed at the end after Gabriel Jesus shoved over Yerson Mosquera, as their lead over Manchester City is five points, with Pep Guardiola’s side having a game in hand.
It was a damaging night for Mikel Arteta’s men in their quest for a first league title since 2004.
Yet they still remain in the hunt for a quadruple of trophies, also facing City in next month’s Carabao Cup final, entering the Champions League last 16 (having topped the league phase), and in the FA Cup fifth round.
But this result will once more spark doubts over Arsenal’s staying power, having finished second in the past three successive seasons.
Wolves analysis: Strugglers going down fighting
Despite being adrift at the bottom and 17 points from safety, Wolves are still fighting and will still have a say in how this Premier League season finishes.
With an hour gone it was a very different scenario as Arsenal led 2-0 and looked on course to see out a comfortable victory.
But that is when Wolves relaxed and began to play, Hugo Bueno scoring the goal of the game with a cracking effort.
Edozie’s dream leveller – a first appearance in senior football marked by a first goal even if Calafiori played his part – epitomised Wolves’ spirit.
That is all they had left – and had to find – under Rob Edwards, with the salvage operation already bleak when he replaced Vitor Pereira in November.
They sensed an Arsenal collapse and scrapped their way to a point – something that was denied them at Emirates Stadium back in December when Mosquera’s 90th-minute own goal gave the Gunners a 2-1 success.
This point will matter to boss Edwards, the players and the Molineux faithful.
It has been a fractured place for a long time during the first half of an unhappy season.
Unity has returned recently and refusing to give up against the leaders with a gutsy display will hearten Wolves as they prepare for life in the Championship and build for a Premier League return at the first attempt.
Arsenal analysis: Pressure mounts on Gunners yet again
By Alex Howell, Football reporter
Arsenal’s lacklustre performance at Wolves has only heightened the nerves of supporters hoping to see them end their title drought.
Despite leading through Saka’s close-range header – his first goal since December – they lacked flow in attack.
Boss Arteta had again picked Saka in the number 10 role rather than the wing after an impressive performance in the FA Cup win over Wigan – and it looked as though that decision had the desired effect to get his side’s frontline firing.
However, despite getting a second goal from Hincapie, Arsenal did not do enough, nor did they look comfortable enough to deny the battling hosts.
This was meant to be a routine win against the league’s bottom club – one they had beaten nine successive times since 2021 and scored against for a 37th time on the trot in all competitions.
Raya didn’t have a save to make in the first half, but Arsenal did not dominate as they should and paid the price.
With games against London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea to follow, the Gunners find themselves under a cloud of uncertainty and whether their title dream will turn into another nightmare.
A trip to second-placed Manchester City will be one of their remaining 11 games and Arteta and his squad will have to finally show they can deal with the pressure in the title run-in.
What’s next for these teams?
Rob Edwards takes his Wolves side to Crystal Palace on Sunday, 22 February (14:00 GMT), before hosting Aston Villa on Friday, 27 February (20:00 GMT).
The north London derby at Tottenham awaits Arsenal on Sunday, 22 February (16:30 GMT) and then Chelsea visit the Emirates on Sunday, 1 March (16:30 GMT).
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Source: www.myjoyonline.com
