Arsenal Stars Shine and Stumble as Wild Wolves Finale Stuns Emirates Crowd

LONDON — Arsenal managed a fortunate 2–1 victory at home against bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday evening in dramatically tense fashion.

Wolves visited the Emirates and found the net three times. Regrettably for the away side, two of those strikes went into their own goal. Sam Johnstone accidentally put Arsenal ahead after 70 frustrating minutes for the home team, only for Tolu Arokodare to nod Wolves back on level terms in the dying moments of regulation time.

"There could be additional suffering ahead," Wolves manager Rob Edwards had worried before the journey to north London. That agony would materialize in the 94th minute through another self-inflicted goal, this time from Yerson Mosquera, to sentence the unlucky visitors to another loss and secure Arsenal their most unconvincing (and fortunate) victory of the campaign.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs. Wolves (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings from FotMob*

GK: David Raya—6.9: Couldn't prevent Tolu's sharp header from finding the net.

RB: Ben White—6.6: Survived just thirty minutes before joining the packed injury list in the capital.

CB: Jurriën Timber—7.4: Despite having double the time compared to White to link up with Saka at right back, the Dutch defender provided half the attacking menace.

CB: William Saliba—7.4: Thankfully available again after missing the previous four fixtures, Saliba resumed exactly where he had stopped.

LB: Piero Hincapié—8.0: Began as a left back before being rapidly moved centrally to make room for Myles Lewis-Skelly's necessary introduction.

CM: Martín Zubimendi—6.8: There was an air of contempt in how Zubimendi twisted away from Wolves' pressing attempts, spinning past every turquoise jersey that dared challenge for the ball with a hip shimmy and eye roll. Could have used more of that confidence in the attacking third.

CM: Declan Rice—7.3: Always looking to push forward, Arsenal's powerhouse won his physical battle in the middle of the park.

AM: Eberechi Eze—6.8: These were the occasions Eze was purchased for—though his experience against defensive blocks from his Crystal Palace days was always questionable—the skillful playmaker to break down a resilient defense. He must have misplaced his magic on a night when he failed to create or attempt a single shot.

RW: Bukayo Saka—8.2: Quickly established his dominance over Toti Gomes and demonstrated it every time he touched the ball.

ST: Viktor Gyökeres—6.5: Moved with pace and intensity but consistently ran into a defensive wall named Emmanuel Agbadou. Arteta will need to keep developing his summer signing's game.

LW: Gabriel Martinelli—6.4: Wasted Arsenal's clearest opportunity while on the field, sending a first-half header sailing over the crossbar from just three yards.

Subs not used: Kepa Arrizabalaga (GK), Christian Nørgaard, Ethan Nwaneri, Noni Madueke.

Wolves (5-3-2)

Starting XI: Sam Johnstone; Matt Doherty, Yerson Mosquera, Emmanuel Agbadou, Toti Gomes, David Møller Wolfe; João Gomes, André, Ladislav Krejčí; Jørgen Strand Larsen, Hwang Hee-chan.

Subs used: Jackson Tchatchoua, Tolu Arokodare, Fer López, Jhon Arias

Player of the Match: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Arsenal 2–1 Wolves: How It Developed at the Emirates

"We will attack at maximum intensity from the start," Mikel Arteta promised. That early assault never materialized. The most significant contact from an Arsenal boot in the opening 25 minutes occurred when Eberechi Eze accidentally caught João Gomes in the face with wayward studs.

It was the struggling visitors who created the match's first genuine scoring opportunity. Arsenal had committed every red shirt to the final third for a long throw midway through the first half, only for the ball to break loose to Hwang Hee-chan near the halfway line.

Wolves' isolated striker had 60 yards to cover before reaching David Raya's goal, with a pack of red shirts closing in with each step he took, and his attempt was weak enough for the Spanish keeper to gather comfortably.

The league leaders failed to register a single shot on target in the opening half. The loudest applause of those initial 45 minutes came ironically, with the Emirates crowd finding rare amusement when the fourth official momentarily forgot how much added time to signal.

Wolves contributed their share. Every restart was prolonged, no contact too slight in a display of essential resilience. Yet the Gunners were content to accept that reduced pace. As has frequently occurred—especially in the season's early months—their danger came almost exclusively from set pieces, where Gabriel Martinelli squandered two first-half opportunities.

As each minute passed with the score still blank, the Emirates grew increasingly anxious and irritable. Manchester City began the weekend trailing by just two points, and even Liverpool have rediscovered their winning formula.

More than two-thirds of the match had passed before Arsenal finally directed a shot on target. Paradoxically, they wouldn't require one to break the deadlock.

Wolves keeper Johnstone made an excellent save to push a dangerous corner from Bukayo Saka against the crossbar, only to watch the ball rebound off the woodwork and strike his still-extended arm. Arsenal's opener sheepishly rolled into the goal.

Tolu's leveler was far more decisive. Showing the clinical edge in possession that their hosts had missed all evening, Mateus Mane curved a wicked cross into the penalty area for his fellow substitute to expertly guide past David Raya.

The Emirates was still trying to comprehend the embarrassment unfolding when Saka delivered a speculative ball into the chaos during the fourth minute of injury time. The returning Gabriel Jesus—who was initially wrongly credited with the winner—didn't make contact with the ball but did enough to confuse Mosquera into deflecting it into his own goal.

As the chaos finally subsided on a memorable night—for both positive and negative reasons—Arsenal somehow emerged five points clear at the Premier League's peak while Wolves remained anchored at the bottom of the standings.

Arsenal vs. Wolves Half Time Stats

Arsenal vs. Wolves Full Time Stats